News on The Potato Supply Chain from Europe

The Solana Group - a German-based potato breeder and producer of seed potatoes - has strengthened its management team by appointing Tobias Mette in a newly created position, head of sales.

Potato cooperative Agrico has celebrated the start of the construction work of its 'Quality Centre' to monitor the quality and vitality of its potato varieties.

AHDB Potatoes announced earlier this month that GB potato stock levels for the end of November are estimated at 3.6M tonnes, the highest level for this point in the season since 2011/12.

Mike Riley, Head of TOMRA Food is making the case for digital standards during the Fruit Logistica. TOMRA Food is initiating cross-industry working groups to accelerate development.

Agrico presented its new generation potato varieties with high resistance to late blight (Phytophthora Infestans) at Fruit Logistica. On the first day of the fair, General Manager Jan van Hoogen explained the meaning of these new varieties.

Country Crest, the north Dublin based family owned agri-business, and Tesco Ireland have confirmed a further extension of its almost 20 year relationship until 2020 in a deal worth over €60 million.

Priory Vodka made from a small acreage of potato crop that is otherwise destined for McCain’s and McDonald’s fries won two prestigious Gold awards at the Global Spirits Masters in autumn 2017. Priory Vodka will go on sale shortly.

A research project aims to improve the accuracy of the ‘AHDB Potatoes potato cyst nematode (PCN) pallida calculator’ which is currently used as an educational forecasting tool for potato growers in the United Kingdom.

La Asociación Agraria de Jóvenes Agricultores (Asaja) de León ha denunciado que Carrefour publicita una oferta de papa española como francesa. Asaja ha exigido a la cadena la inmediata retirada del ofrecimiento y con ello cualquier tipo de publicidad engañosa y contraria a las leyes que protegen a los consumidores.

The highest court in Iceland has upheld a ruling that a 76% duty charged on imported French Fries is not unconstitutional.

Potato Chip manufacturer 'Keogh's crisps' has become one of the most popular food brands in Ireland over the past few years, and it grew out of a potato farm in Dublin.

Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, has confirmed the dates for its annual Europatat Congress. Under the slogan “Potatoes: a healthy, sustainable and responsible sector”, the 2018 Congress will focus on sustainability.

Sales at potato firm Albert Bartlett have climbed 18 per cent to £146m, but operating profit was again impacted by price pressures in the supply chain.

Europatat welcomes its new Communication & Policy Advisor, Berta Redondo

Never before has Agrico marketed such high volumes of seed potatoes, and could pay out such high dividends to members for both seed and table potatoes. Consequently, the 2016/2017 financial year will be noted as one of the most successful years in Agrico's history.

Following an investigation by the Animal and Plant Health Agency earlier this year, it has been confirmed that ulluco tubers imported into the UK from a number of different sources were infected by harmful viruses, highlighting that there is uncertainty about the disease status of this crop in general.

Identification of the receptor for Cytolisin - the killer toxin of Phytophthora infestans - opens door to biological methods to protect potatoes and selective, biological herbicides as alternative for glyphosate

A smoothie based on 'potato milk' is expected to be commercially available next year. The product is made using a patented process using an emulsion of potato and omega-3 oils as a dairy replacement developed at Lund University by Eva Tornberg.