News on Food Trends from Europe

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) rose in April 2019 to around 170 points, 1.5 percent (2.5 points) higher than in March and marking its highest value since June 2018.

EuroBlight is continuously examining the ongoing evolution of the European population of the potato late blight pathogen and now reports on the 2018 results. Approximately 1000 samples were genotyped from 22 countries.

Shortly after it became clear that falsified seed potatoes certificates were in circulation in the Netherlands and Belgium, Breeders Trust, in cooperation with NAK, identified the perpetrators and was able to enact a confession from the guilty parties.

Successful test measurement in french fries production at Bergia Frites in the Netherlands.

Many potato store operators could make significant savings in energy costs if they obtained more usage data to make informed decisions, according to Ray Andrews of Crop Systems Limited.

Supermarkets of the near-future will have their business models radically re-shaped by innovations instore, online, and in the food industry supply chain.

McCain Foods, the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, has selected e-commerce analytics provider e.fundamentals to help drive sales of its products through retailers’ websites.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) held steady in March 2019, averaging 167 points and still hovering around its highest value since August 2018.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 167.5 points in February 2019, up 2.7 points (1.7 percent) from January.

Seed potato supplier HZPC Holland has established the expected prices it will pay to its growers and the organisation expects to pay its Dutch growers a record price of € 41,- per 100 kilo

Lamb Weston Hot2Home™ fries picked up a Gold Award at the Casual Dining Show’s Innovation Challenge.

Three Belgian organisations, Boerenbond, Belgapom and VITO are teaming up to strengthen the future of the Belgian potato chain by jointly investing in the online data platform WatchITgrow.

Crisps fans in the United Kingdom might have noticed that their favourite snack has become a little more expensive in recent months.

A large delegation from the European Parliament paid a visit to Avebe's high-tech vegetable protein plant in Gasselternijveen.

Breeders Trust, the organization that defends the Plant Breeders’ Rights of 10 leading European potato breeders, won a lawsuit earlier this month against the Danish potato export and trading company Myco Seed A/S located in Give (Denmark).

Last Friday, the European Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, mostly referred to as ScoPAFF voted an a proposal to ban Chlorpropham (or CIPC), widely used in the potato industry as sprout inhibitor during potato storage.

Last Friday, potato cooperative Agrico celebrated the official opening of its new quality centre. The centre was built last year behind the company's head office in Emmeloord.

The Belgian potato company De Aardappelhoeve has introduced a new convenience concept during last week's Fruit Logistica. The potato product is targeting a younger generation.