Potato News from Europe

Key Technology has been selected to equip a new production line at Lutosa, a subsidiary of McCain Foods Limited, with a complete solution of their optical inspection and material handling equipment that will prominently feature their new VERYX® digital sorters in a contract worth US$9 million.

Lamb Weston / Meijer has reached the completion phase of the acquisition of the potato division of Oerlemans Foods, including a take-over of the plant in Broekhuizenvorst.

Now that the potato planting season is upon us, we have a newcomer in the field. Potato machine manufacturer AVR is launching the trailed Ceres 450 combined potato planter.

Processing and Packaging equipment specialist tna will open a dedicated innovations hall located at Station Airport in Düsseldorf during the Interpack fair to accommodate its ever-growing portfolio of turnkey food processing and packaging solutions.

The organizers of the Europatat 2017 Congress in Antwerp from 15 to 17 June announce the addition of a number of high level speakers to the programme

Bejo has obtained breeder’s rights on its first True Potato Seed (TPS) variety. This new potato hybrid, Oliver F1, can be cultivated directly from botanical seed and, after transplanting, produces table potatoes in one season.

Bejo Ibérica S.L.U. ha obtenido los derechos de obtentor para la primera variedad de semilla verdadera de patata (TPS).

The NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) estimates the potato acreage will grow by 3.6% compared to last season.

Leading processing and packaging solutions provider tna has appointed Carel Pfaff as group product manager – processing, to head up tna’s processing portfolio

Pom'Alliance and Pomuni are joining forces in the fresh potato sector. Both companies signed mutual cooperation agreements on March 30, 2017.

AHDB Potatoes has announced the appointment of a new chair and the addition of five new members to its board, replacing five members.

Potato breeder Solynta started a potato revolution nearly ten years ago: to develop and apply new breeding technologies to convert potatoes into a hybrid crop. A 'large' trial of the first experimental hybrids took place last season.

At interpack 2017, Bosch Packaging Technology will show that the connected factory is becoming reality in the process and packaging industry.

Aviko launches I love Skinny Fries, a quirky new fries that appeals to young people.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged nearly 171 points in March 2017, down almost 5 points (2.8 percent) from February, but still 20 points (13.4 percent) above its level a year earlier.

La ministra de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Isabel García Tejerina, ha asegurado que espera concluir las negociaciones con la Unión Europea para que esta acepte el protocolo desarrollado en Canarias para la eliminación de la polilla guatemalteca y permita de nuevo la exportación de la patata canaria fuera de las islas, incluido el resto del territorio nacional.

Un estudio realizado por investigadores del Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) descarta que la enfermedad causada por la bacteria "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" (Lso) -que ya ha producido "importantes pérdidas económicas" en zanahoria y apio- pueda afectar a la papa.

The potatoes that will be used in the live demonstrations during the PotatoEurope trade show, which will take place on 13 and 14 September in Emmeloord, the Netherlands, have been planted.