News on Research from the Netherlands

Prof Ian Toth, a distinguished figure in the potato research community, has been appointed as the new President of the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR).

As of 2024, the Association for the Potato Processing Industry (VAVI) is joining the organization of Potato Demonstration Day (Aardappeldemodag).

Climate change and genetic selection have brought root-knot nematodes further north in Europe and made cyst nematodes more difficult to control.

For financial year 2022/2023, potato breeder Royal HZPC Group B.V. reports substantial growth in sales. Gerard Backx, CEO Royal HZPC Group B.V., underlines that the important growth in volume, is mainly in Asia and America.

All over the world, huge quantities of crop protection agents are sprayed to control potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). European researchers find out more on the ongoing battle between the plant and its invader.

Solynta's potato variety was the only one to survive the high late blight pressure in the field among three other commercial varieties planted alongside.

You may think of a seed as tiny and insignificant. Don’t be fooled: its impact on global agriculture is immense. The seed industry is constantly balancing innovation with bringing value to growers.

Lamb Weston EMEA opened its new Innovation Center in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, on June 8, 2023 in the presence of employees, suppliers and the mayor of the city.

The Rabobank report on the US Potato Industry anticipates good prices for the remainder of the 2022/23 marketing year, particularly as the year comes to an end before the new crop harvest begins.

Potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption. But potato world production is threatened by potato late blight

Growers learn best from other growers. This has been proven by the future-proof seed potato cultivation project, an initiative to examine upcoming changes in potato cultivation with a group of growers.

The Netherlands is committed to developing a sustainable and highly productive food system, with less use of fertilisers, water and pesticides, and more biodiversity and crop diversity.

Potato coop Agrico announced that Peter Oldenkamp will become director of Agrico Research starting August 1, 2023. He succeeds Sjefke Allefs as director. Sjefke Allefs has worked at Agrico Research since 1990, in the position of director for the past 24 years.

In this new position, Joost will be responsible for the downstream part of Solynta, leading product management, commercial and go to market strategies.

On 9, 10 and 11 November, HZPC will open its doors in Joure – and online – to anyone with a passion for potatoes. During Potato Days 2022, they will discuss the challenges of food security and sustainability, now and in the future.

The DNA in humans and gorillas is about 95% identical. This percentage is much lower between potato varieties. This might sound like a fun fact to remember for a pub quiz, but for Remco Ursem and Stan Oome, it is a premise that carries a serious challenge.

While many plant proteins are deficient in one or more essential amino acids necessary for optimal muscle growth and repair, a new randomized controlled study published in shows that plant-derived proteins can still induce strong anabolic responses.

After 20 months of service as the first elected chairman of the NEPG, the Dutchman Jaap Botma from Friesland stopped as scheduled. Jaap was an arable farmer (seed potatoes, sugar beets, onions, cereals, …) for 28 years.