Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 33 INTERNATIONAL NEWS Opening the market A NEW organic table potato, Cammeo, from Dutch breeder Geersing was one of the eye- catchers at this year’s Weuthen Potato Day in Germany. Managing Director Jan-Eric Geersing said the breeding company has managed to open up the German market with this and other highly resistant and visually striking new registrations. In a recent interview with Fresh Plaza, he spoke about the restructured variety program and longer-term developments in potato breeding. Geersing’s variety program has undergone a comprehensive redefinition in recent years. From a strong focus on easy- boiling British potato varieties, the emphasis was gradually shifted to yellow-fleshed, firm-cooking and, not least, Phytophthora- resistant potatoes for the German market. Cammeo is suitable for French fries and he envisages good sales opportunities in this segment in Germany. Good yields are likely to be achieved by the breeder in the organic sector this year because of the early harvest and low Phytophthora infestation, said Jan-Eric. Despite sustainability concerns, the potato market is still good. But Geersing does not expect a major organic boom. The breeder’s future strategy will be to combine sustainability with profit. “In terms of yield and caliber, our table potatoes can keep up with competing, disease- susceptible varieties, while the high Phytophthora resistance o ers additional benefits to growers,” said Jan-Eric. He added: “We breeders will also have to somehow cope with climate conditions in the coming years, and by committing to highly resistant varieties at an early stage, we are already well advanced in that respect.” Celebration and commendation for German seed distributor GLOBAL seed distributor, Europlant, a German company, chose the recent PotatoEurope event to celebrate its 30th anniversary with customers and partners, while at the same time marking the retirement of its Managing Partner, Dr Heinrich Böhm. Heinrich was a long-time deputy chairman of the Union of the German Potato Industry (UNIKA). He was also involved in many other plant breeding committees and professional organisations. For many years he was Chairman of the potato department at the Bundesverband Deutscher Pflanzenzüchter (BDP) as well as board member in the BDP and the Association for the Promotion of Plant Innovation (GFPi). He received the honorary award of the German Potato Industry “UNIKAt” at the event in Bockerode, Germany. UNIKA CEO, Olaf Feuerborn, described him as “far-thinking” and said he had helped to establish the German potato industry on a technical and political level both at home and abroad. Europlant’s Managing Director Jörg Renatus, said it was fitting that the retirement fell at the same time as the anniversary, as it encouraged the company to look back on what he had contributed over the past three decades. “We are proud to look back on a successful and dynamic company history, driven by your trust and cooperation,” he said. “With a sale of over 500,000 t of potatoes, we have also gained a significant market position internationally.” He went on to add: “Without your commitment, your entrepreneurial foresight, your trust and your lasting support, our successful path of the last 30 years would not have been possible.” Europlant and BNA have announced a merger for the new financial year 2023/2024 and Jörg said the integration of the two companies will create a stronger overall company which combines new breeding, maintenance breeding, agriculture as well as propagation and sales. “We are proud to look back on a successful and dynamic company history, driven by your trust and cooperation,”