The Belgian potato sector wants to be less dependent on the supply of seed potatoes from abroad, especially from the Netherlands.
The recently started branch organization for the Belgian potato sector Belpotato.be calls its own seed potatoes cultivation one of the priorities to tackle in the coming years.
‘We now import more than 100,000 tons of seed potatoes annually, mainly from the Netherlands and France. We want to become more self-sufficient step by step, with a focus on the large varieties of chips, ‘explains Kurt Cornelissen of the PCA research institute and involved in the new organization as secretary.
Complaints about attendance
Belpotato.be points to the problems with the quality of seed potatoes in recent years. ‘This mainly concerns complaints about poor turnout, sometimes with the result that consumption growers are unable to meet their contractual obligations,’ says Cornelissen.
‘We do not doubt the capacity of the seed potato growers, but we are annoyed by the lack of transparency from the Netherlands on this subject. There is hardly any room for dialogue and that is disappointing. ‘
Seed potatoes fraud
There is also a lack of understanding about the lax way in which the Netherlands dealt with seed potato fraud last year. In Belgium, all seed potato batches with forged certificates were traced, cleared and destroyed in the spring of 2019, says Cornelissen.
‘We do not understand that the Netherlands has allowed the planted plots to grow. This damages confidence and detracts from the position of the Netherlands as a guide country for propagation material.
• Read also: Belgians start sector organization for potatoes
Not a strange thought
In a response to the report that Belgium is more committed to growing its own seed potatoes, HZPC director Gerard Backx says he understands this. ‘Belgium needs a lot of seed potatoes. It’s not a strange idea that the sector wants to be more self-sufficient. ‘
Backx does not think that the initiative will directly affect the Dutch competitive position. ‘In Europe, an expansion of seed potato acreage is necessary to meet the need. We already grow more seed potatoes in France and Germany, but we also see opportunities for cultivation in Belgium. ‘
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Quality improvement
The argument that own cultivation results in better quality raises eyebrows among the HZPC director. ‘There are no indications that Belgians grow better seed potatoes and that quality problems adhere to national borders. We are working intensively on quality improvement in the potato chain, and that also applies to the seed potatoes that are sold to Belgium. ‘
