News on Research from Europe

Defra has approved the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)'s proposed levy rates for growers for the next financial year - from 1 April 2010 until 31 March 2011.   Potato growers will see an increase of £1.17 - from £39.00 to £40.17 ...

Clextral, pet food extrusion and drying specialist, achieved a €45.3 million turnover in 2009 with its subsidiaries: 80% in export sales and 70% in sales in the non-Euro area.   Clextral’s well-balanced global interests (extrusion, drying, couscous an...

De Nederlandse Akkerbouw Vakbond (NAV) neemt het initiatief voor het vormen van een telersvereniging van aardappeltelers die voor McCain telen. Daarmee pakt de akkerbouwvakbond de handschoen op die voorzitter Eric Delacour, voorzitter van de Franse tel...

The significant changes to cost of potato production for UK producers in the period 2007-2009, has left many potato growers questioning the pricing structure in North West Europe. Also, the ability of producers in France, Belgium and the Netherlands to...

Carrefour, the world's No. 2 retailer, said it would cut jobs and close stores in Belgium to restore profitability in the country amid intense competition from local rivals.The plan calls for cutting 1,672 jobs and closing 21 stores in Belgium by end-J...

The Potato Council (PCL), a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), recorded 100 international enquiries about seed potatoes at their exhibit at this year’s record breaking Fruit Logistica exhibition (February 3rd to 5th...

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 underscored its position as a leading global trade fair for the fresh produce sector with a comprehensive overview of the market, the presence of all key decision makers in the industry, and a record number of exhibitors and visitors.

Last Friday the Pommonde® taste concept was rewarded second place at the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award in Berlin.

The Potato Council is trying to garner support for its campaign to reclassify the tuber as a "supercarb"- recognising its "unique dual identity"as both carbohydrate and vegetable.A petition is being put to Downing Street asking for ...

Increased overseas demand for British-grown seed potatoes has drawn the Potato Council from Britain, one of the biggest seed-exporting countries in the world, to represent exporters at Fruit Logistica 2010.

The start of 2010 brought wintry conditions across Northern Europe. As a result, potato markets in all the Northwest European Potato Growers (NEPG) 5 countries, firmed during early January.Supplies tightened as many growers were reluctant to open store...

De contractprijs die de grote aardappelverwerkende bedrijven in 2010 voor fritesaardappelen bieden zullen iets lager zijn dan in 2009. Dat melden vertegenwoordigers van Aviko Potato, Lamb Weston Meijer, McCain en Farm Frites in het Agrarisch Dagblad.De...

Grow Your Own Potatoes, the largest primary school growing project from the UK potato industry, is well on its way to smash targets for 2010!Over 10,000 primary schools have already registered at www.potatoesforschools.org.uk to take part in the scheme...

Something special is going on in London tonight, with a buzz already building around a new designer product to be  unveiled in the witching hour. Restaurateurs, chefs and fashion-conscious foodies will be among those jostling for sizzling fare prepare...

Irish potato farmers are facing ruin because of the freezing conditions which have followed the heavy rain in November, the Irish Farmers’ Association has claimed.The IFA estimates that 20 per cent of last year’s potato crop will not be recovered, lead...

The Potato Council has introduced an innovative new way for growers and merchants to raise awareness of National Chip Week;putting the message on potato sacks. In fact, artwork is already available that promotes the Week’s key benefit – to boost sales ...

The skin is light brown, the meat luscious and yellow: from the outside alone, this new potato looks like any other. But on the inside, it is different. Its cells produce pure amylopectin, a starch used in the paper, textile and food industries. The ne...

Good growing conditions have resulted in the production of more potatoes this year than last - with volumes up by some 3.5 per cent to 6.2 million tonnes.   The Potato Council revealed the figure - based on the production reported from 246 crops from ...