100 exhibitors signed up – topics in technical program in place – highlight: machine demonstrations
(DLG). Once again, the estate “Rittergut Bockerode” in Springe-Mittelrode near Hanover, Germany, will host European potato professionals on September 7 and 8, 2022 for the PotatoEurope field event. Organized by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) with support of the Union of the German Potato Industry (UNIKA), Potato Europe is held in Germany every four years.
“We are looking forward to hosting the potato industry’s leading event this year,” says Friedrich Henkels, manager of the Rittergut Bockerode estate. “Lower Saxony is the federal state in Germany with the highest potato production, with 45 percent of all farming acreage dedicated to this crop. In addition, visitors to PotatoEurope can take advantage of the historical sights of the Calenberg region.”
Around 100 exhibitors from the fields of breeding, fertilization, plant protection, agricultural technology and processing have already signed up.
“PotatoEurope 2022 is the first event to take place again after the cancellation of the European partner events in France in 2020 and in the Netherlands in 2021, as a result of the pandemic,” explains Dr. Wolf, project manager of PotatoEurope, DLG.
“Accordingly, there’s a high demand for information on current topics and new products among potato growers. And last but not least, everyone is looking forward to meeting up in-person again,” he adds.
Technical program
In the meantime, the first cornerstones of the accompanying technical program have been laid: the special show “Processing and Marketing on the Farm” will highlight the business opportunities of direct farm sales.
The special show “Smart Potato Farming” will inspire visitors with suggestions on the digital and autonomous solutions they can expect to see in potato production in the coming years.
A popular attraction at the event site this year will once again be the machine demonstrations. With an extensive program, modern technology for potatoes will be demonstrated live presenting planting and mechanical weed control to grubbing and loading.
Registration deadline for exhibitors
Registration deadline for campus stands on grass or in the tent hall and for participation in the machinery demonstrations is April 29, 2022.
The PotatoEurope trade fair takes place annually alternating between Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Rittergut Bockerode
Located some 30 km southwest of the center of Hanover, the estate of Rittergut Bockerode has also hosted PotatoEurope in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. The international airport Hanover-Langenhagen and the ICE train station, Hannover-Hauptbahnhof, are both directly connected with the local train via a shuttle and thus offer convenient travel options, also from outside Germany.
Germany’s potato industry
In Germany, potato cultivation takes place on more than 27,000 farms with a combined area varying between 250,000 – 270,000 hectares. On average, Germany producers 10 to 11 million tonnes of potatoes annually, making it the largest potato producer in the European Union (EU). The number of potato varieties have increased by over 58 percent in the last ten years from 345 in 2010 to 545 potato varieties approved in Germany in 2020.
This sector generates an estimated value added return of more than 3 bn Euro annually through sales of three main income streams: food, industrial and seed potatoes.
These dimensions underline the importance of the potato sector in Germany – and the industry’s important position the EU – yet, on average, the German potato crop only accounts for about two percent of the country’s farmland.
Exhibitors should contact Dr. Wilfried Wolf, tel. 069/24788-272 or e-mail: w.wolf@DLG.org.
Current information about PotatoEurope 2022 is available at www.potatoeurope.de.
