News on Energy and Environment from Europe

Unilever and IOI Loders Croklaan have signed a global partnership designed to drive efficiency, increase capacity and quality of specialty oils and fats as well as commodity oils.

Today at the Stockholm International Water Institute's annual World Water Week, PepsiCo announced the company's latest Water Report and unveiled Hydro-BID, a tool that estimates the availability of freshwater in water-scarce regions.

Mydibel Group, manufacturer of fresh and deep-frozen potato products and dried potato flakes and granules, has invested in the construction of 2 ha of photovoltaic panels - the largest industrial solar field in private hands in Wallonia

The Potato Demo Day is an easily accessible event for the Potato Sector. The programme is implemented at limited costs and in cooperation with participating companies from the sector.

El Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, NEIKER-Tecnalia, entidad pública dependiente de la Viceconsejeria de Agricultura, Pesca y Política Alimentaria del Gobierno Vasco, está investigando actualmente los genes de patata que mejor se adaptan a las condiciones previstas de cambio climático, caracterizadas por una disminución de la lluvia y temperaturas más extremas de calor y frío.

The Basque Research institute Neiker-Tecnalia is currently looking for potato genes that best adapt to the anticipated climate change conditions, characterised by a reduction in rainfall and increased extremes of hot and cold temperatures.

An international team of experts led by Newcastle University has shown that organic crops are up to 60% higher in a number of key antioxidants than conventionally-grown ones.

Fabcon HCFS 220 Batch Fryer produces up to 220 kgs of finished product per hour using the same or less energy than competitive equipment producing 120 kgs, according to the company.

Coleccionistas de plantas y mejoradores genéticos de diversas nacionalidades se han unido para recolectar, proteger y preparar los parientes silvestres de los cultivos alimentarios más importantes en el mundo de tal forma que puedan utilizarse en el desarrollo de nuevas variedades resistentes al cambio climático.

At the 2014 Fruit Logistica event, being held in Berlin from 5-7 February, DuPont Food Chain Manager for the EMEA region, Mr Luigi Coffano, highlighted the challenges faced by a world population that is growing by 150,000 people every day.

From Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 February 2014 Agrico will be exhibiting at Fruit Logistica in Berlin. During this major international trade show, Agrico will be presenting its extensive range of seed and table potatoes.

Bioversity International está llevando a cabo una encuesta para evaluar las perspectivas en todo el mundo sobre los cultivos tolerantes al crecimiento bajo condiciones de estrés .

Germany's first straw-fired heating plant will soon be commissioned in Emlichheim. Burning approximately 60,000 metric tons of straw per year, it will supply heat to Emsland-Stärke GmbH, public facilities and private households.

Red Emma, Blue Elise, Pink fir apple and Sieglinde: The Austrian association "Arche Noah"together with supermarket chain Spar are working towards providing selections of rare potato varieties.

Machinery manufacturer Tong Peal has announced a brand new machinery finishing process, as part of continued efforts to provide farmers and growers with the highest quality custom handling equipment.

Potato processor McCain has contracted Soltens to remove and recycle by-products from its Scarborough french fry factory.

Greenvale, the UK’s leading potato supplier, is putting spare spuds from its Shropshire site, Tern Hill and Cambridgeshire site, Floods Ferry, to good use by using them to tackle food waste by working with food distribution charity, FareShare.

Representatives from across Europe?s food supply chain have today announced the launch of a joint effort to tackle the major societal problem of food wastage via the publication of their Joint Declaration entitled, “Every Crumb Counts”.