The area dedicated to the production of seed potatoes in Spain is 2,150 hectares, with a very good quality crop that has managed to maintain itself these years where others are seeing a significant reduction in plantings. To learn more about the importance of this crop, we have interviewed the president of the Spanish Seed Potato Producers Association (APPSE), Javier Díaz de Espada, in our section ‘In his own name’. We will discover the current situation of the sector, the actions that this benchmark of the seed potato producer sector is carrying out at the national level, among other matters …
How and when was the Spanish Seed Potato Producers Association (APPSE) born?
The Seed Potato Producers Association (APPSE) was created in February 2013 in Burgos, the town where it has its headquarters.
Who make up the association? In which provinces is it present?
The association is currently made up of 13 companies, cooperatives and independent farmers, which make up about 85% of the seed potato producing sector nationwide.
The companies, cooperatives and individual farmers that form it are based in the provinces of Álava, Burgos and Palencia, but also some companies and cooperatives have producers in the province of Navarra.
What is the area dedicated to this crop in Spain?
Currently, the area dedicated to the production of seed potatoes at the national level is about 2,150 ha, this figure is very stable and has hardly changed in recent years. I believe that continuing to maintain the planting area is a great success for the sector, since there are many crops of this type that are reducing plantings significantly.
What objectives does the APPSE set itself?
APPSE wants to be the benchmark in the seed potato producer sector at the national level and become the main interlocutor in all those forums in which this crop is discussed. Being able to influence all the new regulations (European, national and regional) so complex and changing that it affects our sector.
Act as a representative and defend the common interests of our producers in the corresponding forums.
Other objectives of the association are the increase in R & D & i, as well as the search for new varieties that make profitable the farms of our producer partners .
What are the characteristics of the Spanish seed potato? What varieties are the most demanded in the eastern area and Andalusia?
The national seed potato is a potato of very good quality and that scrupulously complies with the Technical Regulation of Control and Certification of Seed Potato, that is to say that all our potatoes are certified and carry an official label that identifies the product that goes in each container. Our potato is more adapted to the weather conditions and the soils of our country.
The most popular varieties in Levante and Andalusia in order of importance are Agria and Spunta as the main varieties and then other varieties such as Monalisa, Red Pontiac, Jaerla and Desiree.
What advantages does it have compared to imported seed?
Our potato has a lower price than the imported one, assuming a saving for the consumer potato producer. Another advantage of our potato is that it is a local potato with a lower carbon footprint. On the other hand, our members of the association have greater agility in the supply of seed potatoes compared to imported potatoes. These reasons being sufficient for consumer potato producers to opt for planting domestic potatoes.
What are your forecasts for this campaign? What advice would you give growers this year?
This year is a somewhat complicated year, since we are faced with two somewhat novel scenarios, on the one hand as a consequence of the pandemic that is affecting us and on the other the situation that Brexit will leave, because Spain is a A country that exports a lot of potatoes to the United Kingdom and Scotland is one of the main suppliers of seed potatoes to Spain.
The recommendations that are being made within the consumer potato producer sector is to reduce potato plantings, so as not to collapse the market with potatoes at low prices. We must not forget that Spain is a country with a deficit in both seed and consumption potatoes, so we still have room to continue producing potatoes in our country.
What we have to influence the most in the producer sector is to produce high quality potatoes and on the other hand, we must bear in mind the market trends to optimize the sale of our product.
How has the urgency of French operators to release their potatoes affected, due to the suppression this year of the CIPC antgerminant used in the conservation of the tuber?
This haste in the sale of potatoes by French operators has led to greater sales pressure in the Spanish consumer potato market, which has led to a decrease in sales prices that in some varieties may even be below the production costs.
Regarding this issue, the EU Member States withdrew on October 8 the authorizations of all phytosanitary products with chlorpropham as an active ingredient. What alternatives are being studied for optimal conservation of potato crops?
Several options are currently being studied, but none of them are as effective and inexpensive as chlorpropham. The one that seems best positioned as a possible substitute for chlorpropham is 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, which is registered in several countries of the European Union such as Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland, but is currently in the process of registration in Spain. Another alternative is spearmint oil, which is registered in potatoes and is one of the best alternatives for preserving organic or organic products because it is a natural product that leaves no residue.
Ethylene is also being used as a sprouting inhibitor, with good results in some varieties of potato, for this it is necessary to have an ethylene generator from ethanol, by catalysis.
There are also other alternatives but they are not giving as good results such as the application of maleic hydrazide during potato cultivation and other products that are under development such as orange oil and green light.
Production destined for the hotel industry suffers a halt due to the decrease in consumption by tourism and the closure of establishments due to the health crisis. To what extent does this affect the market?
The impact is being very important, especially in some varieties whose main destination is the Horeca channel, as is the case of the sour variety. This is motivated by being one of the most important varieties used in the 4th and 5th range (peeled and chopped fresh potato in different formats, with a heat treatment in the case of the 5th range) whose main destination is catering and hotel companies. There has also been a strong decrease in the consumption of fried potato, mainly from the chip industry.
The potato processing industry has greatly diminished its performance, which has caused that much of the potato destined for the industry has to be sold through other sales channels, causing a collapse in the market.
How can the association act in the face of dreaded price volatility?
It is not easy for an association to influence the market price, for that there are much more powerful tools, such as inter-professional ones. The Castilla y León potato interprofessional has recently been created, although it may have been necessary to create a national interprofessional.
On the other hand, there is the law of the food chain that aims for each of the links in the food chain to obtain a price above the estimated cost of production or handling, as the case may be, all supported by through contracts between each of the parties.
At present, what technical challenges does the sector face that fit the needs of the farmer?
One of the main technical challenges is obtaining new varieties and their introduction into the consumer potato market. Other no less important challenges are the search for new molecules that can help control crop pests and diseases, as well as improve potato preservation. The search for herbicides to control weeds and defoliation of potato crops is also being a major challenge.
Finally, what future holds for the cultivation of seed potatoes in Spain?
The future of this sector is quite promising, because it is one of the most profitable crops that exist nationwide and we have strong support from the structures that are part of this crop as well as from our producer partners, who are investing every time more on improving your growing media.
