News on COVID-19 from Europe

In 2020, Bühler proved to be a reliable partner to all its stakeholders and showed robust business performance in 2020. Despite adverse conditions, Bühler fulfilled all customer contracts and delivery agreements without interruptions.

Royal Cosun (parent of potato processor Aviko) closed 2020 with a slightly higher group result than in 2019. Aviko had an exceptionally turbulent year. Lockdowns exerted pressure on Aviko’s turnover in the foodservice channel, whereas other business groups benefited directly or indirectly from higher sales in the retail channel.

The Scottish seed potato industry has harnessed willing buyers in Europe to support their efforts to get the European Commission to re-think its current ban on the importation of UK seed stocks – yet the chances of success remain 50/50.

Until December 31, 2020 the North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) was a 5 country organization, but the organization started 2021 without the British AHDB. Also, Victor Pfaff stepped down as NEPG secretary and is replaced by Daniel Ryckmans.

Este ha sido muy mal año para la patata. En estos momentos todavía queda almacenada en Castilla y León en torno a un 50% más de lo habitual en estas fechas y además, con grandes dificultades de salida.

The Grow Your Own Potatoes (GYOP) Programme will go ahead as planned in 2021 with the support of the potato industry.

VIRTO GROUP, the largest frozen vegetable company in Spain and one of the most important in Europe, has again selected TOMRA for its sorters. The company has updated its main plant in Azagra (Navarra) with eleven Nimbus BSI+ sorters.

Organizers of the Anuga FoodTec planned to take place in Cologne, Germany from March 23-26, 2021 have rescheduled the exhibition for April 26-29, 2022.

Potato coop Agrico held its annual central general members' meeting last week. During this online meeting, the annual figures for 2019/2020 were discussed and Agrico's digital transformation was addressed.

The GB potato industry accounts for over 117.46Kha of planted area this year, and is represented by 1,611 growers in 2020. Growers have faced difficult seasons of late.

NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) is unsure of the current potato situation and does not expect major changes in the demand side of the market in the coming weeks.

In financial year 2019/2020 Dutch Potato Starch Producer Royal Avebe achieved a performance price of 96.15 euros. This is a fraction below the record result - 96.63 euros - of the previous financial year.

La empresa vallisoletana apuesta por las variedades 'Agria' y 'Lady amarilla' para seguir ofreciendo patata nacional y de Castilla y León a los consumidores.

The health crisis has taken a toll on the industrial potato market, although the consumer market has not been hit that hard.

After much discussion and planning by the CUPGRA Executive Committee, it has been decided, owing to COVID-19 restrictions, to go ahead with a virtual conference to continue the unbroken run of 30 successful CUPGRA Cambridge Potato Conferences.

The corona crisis dealt a blow to the fries processing industry and that in turn had consequences for the growers who supply the industry.

Consumption and retail demand remains strong as we approach week 4 of lockdown measures although processing trade remains minimal.

In the United Kingdom, Lockdown 2.0 is happening and it brings widespread closure of pubs and restaurants once again. AHDB reflects on what it means for the potato industry