News on Potato Varieties and Seed from Europe

KWS is selling its conventional seed potato business to Stet Holland B.V. An agreement to that effect was signed yesterday. The transaction is expected to be completed by mid-2016.

Dutch Potato Company Agrico was awarded the Ambassadors’ Prize 2016 for its project in Kenya that aims to establish a profitable potato chain for all stakeholders, including 12,500 small-scale farms.

Research to develop potatoes with sustainable resistance against phytophthora via genetic modification with genes from wild potatoes and good resistance management ended with the publication of the scientific results. The approach resulted in potato plants which require 80% less chemical control.

HZPC Holland bv, wereldleider in aardappelveredeling, heeft de prognoseprijs over Oogst 2015 vastgesteld en verwacht zijn pootgoedtelers in Nederland € 29,50 per 100 kilo te betalen.

Irish housewife and mother Maria Flynn successfully started her own business Ballymakenny Farm Heritage Potatoes, growing the specialty potato Violetta.

Bill Gates, who is a major backer of food biotechnology, has spoken passionately how food biotechnology can help the people of Africa fight the numerous challenges they face.

The owner of Germicopa, Florimond Desprez has acquired 49% of the shares in Danespo from DLG, thus entering into an equal partnership with DLF who owns another 49% of the shares. The remaining 2% are owned by growers and employees.

EUROPLANT Pflanzenzucht GmbH,presents its wide variety of seed potatoes - including the Venezia, Madeira and Georgina varieties - at Fruit Logistica 2016

Agrico and its subsidiaries will launch the new ‘Say Growth’ campaign at Fruit Logistica in Berlin.

HZPC proudly announces the nomination of their potato concept WOW! Colourful Perupas® for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2016.

Over three days in February 2016 at Berlin’s Messe, the worldwide fresh produce industry will be able to meet leading potato and horticulture organisations on the large Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) stand.

Potato wholesaler Jac van den Oord in Ammerzoden, the Netherlands has placed some new potato products on the market specifically for the Christmas period

Potato Cooperative Agrico held its central members’ meeting last week. At this meeting the 2014/2015 annual report was discussed.

Breeders Trust' shareholder Danespo (Denmark), in Appeal has achieved a major victory in a lengthy lawsuit against the Danish potato trader Knud Kristensen ApS

UK Seed potato exports are booming with big strides being made to open even more new markets.

Extremely low prices in the European ware potato market have put a dent in HZPC's sales of certified seed potatoes in Europe.

Hybrid potatoes are piquing the interests of people both within and outside the potato sector. A hybrid combines the best of two systems in order to maximize performance. But what does hybridization mean? And will it change the sector for good? HZPC weighs in.

Research shows that crops with stacks of two or more resistance genes from closely related species, introduced into the crop via for instance genetic engineering, combined with the simultaneous introduction of resistance management, can ensure the long-term resistance of these plants to economically significant and aggressive diseases.