Lance Inc and Snyder's of Hanover have announced they have signed a definitive agreement to combine in a stock-for-stock merger of equals that will create a combined company to be called Snyder's-Lance Inc.

Corn Products International, a leading global provider of ingredient solutions for diversified industries, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire National Starch, a New Jersey-based global provider of specialty starches, from AkzoNobel, the largest global coatings and specialty chemicals company, headquartered in The Netherlands.

Yissum Research Development Company Ltd, the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has come up with a solid organic electric battery based upon treated potatoes.

Yissum Research Development Company Ltd, the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has come up with a solid organic electric battery based upon treated potatoes.

Two of the industry´s leading suppliers - Tummers Methodic, Holland, and Rosenqvists Food Technologies, Sweden are joining hands.

From Japan and Bangladesh to Australia and Canada, from Norway and Denmark to France and Germany and from the UK and Ireland to Egypt and the US, the 2010 International Potato Processing and Storage Convention attracted a truly worldwide audience.

The Potato Council has revealed the ten ‘Potato Ambassadors' selected to champion all things spud related.

Global comparable sales for McDonalds have risen by almost 5 percent.

Syngenta is set to tackle late blight in the Colombian Basin with its Revus Top fungicide.

Scientists from Adelaide's Flinders University have discovered starch contained in cold cooked potatoes can reduce the cancer risk posed by eating red meat.

US spud farmers in the Klamath Basin have reported widespread maggot infestations attacking their potato seeds.

Industry leaders Tummers Methodic, Holland, and Rosenqvists Food Technologies, Sweden, have joined forces.

Planting of GM potatoes has begun at a secret location in Norfolk, England, in the hope of combating late blight.

The UK cold snap could mean seed potato crops are at a lower risk from aphids.

The Chinese Government has begun research into potato production in a bid to reduce poverty and guard against famine.

ConAgra Foods has developed a range of roast potato and vegetable sides the can be prepared in less than 15 minutes.

Researchers from Cornell University have uncovered a link between Guatemalan potato moth infestations and larger potato yields.

Multinational McCain has introduced a range of sweet potato frozen chips in South Africa.

Holland based potato supplier, Valstar, has announced a bumper sales start of its new brand, Discovered Sweet Potatoes.

Research undertaken by the Korea University, Namyang Dairy Products and the Korea Food Research Institute suggests taurine could be used to combat acrylamide.

The founder of Tyrrell's has won the title of best vodka in the world for his Chase potato vodka.

Potato growers are looking to be included in the USDA's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food aid programme.

The Potato Council has reported a rise in potato prices following lower yields and later harvesting.

Jersey Royal potato yields may be slashed in half following the worst drought in 34 years.

Crisp manufacturer Golden Wonder is launching a marketing campaign in Scotland following a surge in company growth.

Frito Lay is looking to almost triple its contracts for potato farming in India within the next three years.

Potato growers in Idaho have begun planting despite failing to strike a deal with the major processors.

The European Snacks Association (ESA) has joined the EU Pledge initiative in a bid to cut advertising to children.

Potato producers in Idaho may have to bin surplus spuds to make way for the 2010 yield.

The Potato Council UK has called for more Blight Scouts to sign up ahead of the onset of its Fight Against Blight campaign 2010.

Ulrick & Short are on target to launch the first functional clean-label sweet potato starch in commercial quantities later this year.

The Soil Association has predicted sales of organic foods will grow despite the recent slump.

A gourmet version of the Jersey Royal potato, cultivated by Tesco, has been targeted by spud rustlers.

Snack giant, Pringles, has launched a multigrain variety in a bid to woo the more health conscious consumers.

Heartland Farms' proposals to create a Saratoga spud farm were withdrawn following strong opposition from residents.

A report by Freshfel Europe revealed Britons each fewer vegetables despite a million pound campaign highlighting the benefits of eating five portions a day.

Frustrated farmers in the Barguna and Patuakhali regions of Bangladesh are feeding crops to cattle after a lack of storage caused price crashes.

Fiji has designated $75,000 to buy potato seeds in a bid to provide residents with locally sourced spuds.

UK potato supplier Bartlett's is launching a range of purple potatoes in a bid to stave off reduced consumer consumption levels.

Over production of potatoes in the Indian Punjab have cause prices to crash by almost a third with the threat of rotting stores imminent.

Indian farmers burnt quintals of potatoes and an effigy of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in protest against low spud sale prices and a dearth of storage facilities.

Fertiliser additive Kicka can reduce nitrogen use by up to 20 per cent, according to a seven year study.

Mississippi Govenor Haley Barbour has approved a multi-million dollar loan guarantee for sweet potato farmers after floods devastated crops.

The UK Potato Council has reported a 13 per cent drop in prices per tonne despite rising potato purchases.

PepsiCo inc. is introducing a new ingredient to its Lays potato chips in a bid to make them healthier.

Diamond Foods has announced the purchase of Kettle Foods to be completed by March 31.

Basic American Foods has reached a deal to buy Hungry Jack and Idaho Spuds potato brand products.

Warmer and drier weather has allowed UK potato growers to make promising progress according to the Potato Council.

Potato producers in Australia have seen profits slump following an increase of processed spud imports from Europe, American and New Zealand.

The UK arm of McCain foods is launching a £1 million campaign to promote its sweet potato products.

A report by the Potato Council has revealed chips or French fries account for 85 of potato based accompaniments chosen in restaurants.

US based Inventure Group has developed three new flavours to be sold as part of Burger King's snack chips line.

The UK's Food Standard Agency has agreed on a uniform approach to nutritional information printed on the front of food packaging.

The Bangladeshi Government is considering providing cash incentives to potato exporters in a bid to boost production and spud sales prices.

So far potato production has exceeded Government targets of 7.2 tonnes to eight tonnes.

But officials believe stock is being sold at a price less than the cost of production.

The Commerce Industry has stated that in principle, it would increase cash incentives at the request of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA).

A final decision on the incentives is expected following official approval from the Finance Ministry.

The BCSA has warned that potato export is paramount to promoting cultivation and ensuring fair prices for produce.

Pakistan potato exports have dropped 40 per cent in the last year due to competition in the market.

Budget supermarket Asda is set to sell Jersey Royal potatoes ahead of rival stores.

Researchers believe they have found a means to cook French fries without producing the carcinogen, acrylamide.

Potato researchers have developed several new potato varieties that claim to contain disease fighting antioxidants.

Bread manufacturer Warburtons has revealed plans to conquer the snack market with two new product range launches.

Diamond Foods has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Kettle Foods, makers of premium potato chips, from Lion Capital LLP for $615 million in cash. This means Diamond will acquire Kettle operations in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Frito Lay has developed a range of regional flavours especially for the US snack market.

Doritos tortilla chips say their consumer-created Doritos commercial aired during the weekend's Super Bowl XLIV, placed second in USA Today's annual consumer-ranked Super Bowl Ad Meter.

New research by Mintel has revealed that almost 100 per cent of British people eat potatoes with more than one in four scoffing spuds more often now than ever.

Potato Producer Valstar has unveiled their brand of sweet spuds in a bid to encourage more Europeans to purchase the potatoes.

Netherlands grown Pommonde potatoes were awarded second place at the Fruit Logistica Innovation Awards in Berlin, Germany, last week.

Crisp brand Hula Hoops has launched its Hoopathon in Leicester Square, London, ahead of plans to set a new hooping record.

Bloomberg/Business Week has reported that Lance Inc and Diamond Foods Inc are among manufacturers keen to take-over Kettle Foods.

Potato producing farmers in Asia are being given a helping hand to ward off the threats of climate change.

Iconic French fries producer McCain has introduced Masala Fries at the Hosts 2010 event in Mumbai.

European Potato Processors' Association has launched its new name, EUPPA, at a European Parliament event in Brussels.

Classic crisp manufacturer, Golden Wonder, has won a contract to supply snacks to East Coast Trains, UK.

Parents have been found to opt for lower calorie fast food when presented with menus stating the calorie information.

An engineer from central Dat Lat City in Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Trang Nha, has successfully developed a plant variety which can grow both tomatoes and potatoes.

Nha grafted the top of a tomato plant onto the foot of a potato plant and the resulting species proved capable of producing both types of produce.

Planting the tomato-potato breed is also more efficient as growers can produce more vegetables in a small area, said Nha.

In addition, tomatoes and potatoes would no longer have to be planted separately, saving time and taking better advantage of limited land.

Nha said growers could expect to earn VND6-17 million (US$315-895) per hectare from the crop, more than what can be earned from cultivating the produce separately.

The project was implemented over two years when Nha was a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry. The plants were then tested in Da Lat.

Nha said that she will still continue her research in the hope of one day providing the new type of plant to farmers on a larger scale.

 

 

The Potato Council has published an estimate of Great Britain's potato crop yield for 2009.

Potato production and combating disease will be the focus at the Scottish Agricultural College's (SAC) Association of Potato Growers Conference at Perth Racecourse this Thursday.

LINPAC Group Limited, the international packaging manufacturer, has successfully completed its debt restructuring following approval from shareholders and lenders.

Prospective purchasers of the crisp brand Kettle Chips are set to visit the company's headquarters over the coming weeks.

Regional paper, The Eastern Daily Press, reported several blue-chip companies were believed to be interested in buying the company.

Lion Capital, who owns the brand, is alleged to be looking to sell for more than £400 million.

Kettle Foods', which was bought by Lion Capital in 2006, managing director Jeremy Bradley, said: "Lion Capital has received a number of approaches from parties interested in buying the business and consequently we have been asked to host several visits over the coming weeks."

Potential buyers will be shown around Kettle's UK base in Norwich.

Five Columbian potato growers have been awarded for the high-quality of their produce by McDonald's Japan and The JR Simplot Company.

The leading food companies recognised the five Columbian Basin growers at an awards ceremony at the end of last year.

Growers Ed Schneider from Schneider Farms, Jack Gross, Marlin Hutterian Brethren, Keys Weyns from Weyns Farms, Berend Friehe from Friehe Farms and John McCloud, from Glen Lewis Farms were all recognised for their achievements.

Bret Nedrow, Simplot regional raw procurement manager at Moses Lake, said: "The selection of these five growers for this special recognition was based on raw potato grades delivered into the facilities during McDonald's production runs by using the JR Simplot Grower Matrix.

"The growers were selected based on their high quality raw product delivered and used to produce the consistently superior fries and hash browns that McDonald's is known for in their restaurants worldwide."

Simplot supply McDonald's in Japan with French fries and hash browns made from potatoes grown in the Columbian Basin.

Japan is the largest consumer of McDonald's produce, outside the US, with nearly 4,000 restaurants.

Idaho's Congressional Delegation is asking the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist potato producers struggling due to a high supply of domestic potatoes and low prices.

In a letter to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Administrator, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick are asking USDA to give favorable consideration to a pending request for purchase of fresh surplus potatoes for federal nutrition programs under the Section 32 programme.

The Delegation outlines the current potato market challenges.

"The growing conditions for the 2009 Idaho potato crop were almost perfect resulting in record yields and excellent quality. Therefore, the percentage of saleable potatoes is above average this year, and currently Idaho potato stocks on hand are nearly 13.5 percent more than last year's stocks, despite Idaho shipping 4.5 percent more than 2008 volumes.

"This situation has caused prices to drop, and prices have continued to be low for quite some time," the Delegation says.

"Potato growers are struggling right now with their returns, which are quite low. Without action, the combination of a high supply and low prices will drive many growers in the State of Idaho and throughout the country to go out of business.

"In today's financial market, trying to get financing for next year's crops could be quite difficult when producers present the returns for this year's crop."

New GM crop trials are to be carried out in Britain after a trial by Leeds University successfully produced GM potatoes in 2009.

The scientists who carried out the trial are to apply for a licence to continue testing crops in 2010 on dedicated testing farms around the UK.

The government's chief scientific advisor, John Beddington, recently spoke out to the farming community advising a 'green revolution' to help combat problems of exploding population size and rising temperatures. The measures he advocated included nanotechnology and GM farming.

However, organic farmers and environmentalists oppose the plan, saying GM foods are potentially damaging. Greenpeace say the long term effects of GM crops have not been properly researched and, by cross-pollinating with non-GM crops and wild plants, they replicate themselves and contaminate the environment with genetic pollution that is impossible to clean up.

However, a spokesperson for the UK Food Standards Agency says, "Each GM food is assessed for safety, including its toxicological, nutritional and allergenic potential, on a case-by-case basis before it can be approved for marketing."

An innovative 'one stop shop' germplasm potato database resource is now available for scientists online.

The Potato Council (UK) is looking for potato suppliers to help publicise National Chip Week 2010.

Sales of seed potatoes look set to rise in 2010 in the UK.

The Himachal area of India is benefitting from falling potato production in other areas of the country.

The Potato Council (UK) hopes to market the potato as a ‘super-carb' in an attempt to safeguard the future of the industry.

A potato shortage caused by severe winter weather is affecting the production of crisps in South Africa.

Potato production is set to drop in one Australian state because growers have been financially affected by this year's low crop harvest.

Potato farmers in Prince Edward Island (PEI) are hoping a new marketing campaign will help improve sales.

A dangerous virus is threatening to force potatoes in the Moscow region to be quarantined and face a total export ban.

Monsanto is researching techniques to reduce unhealthy fats in soybean oil.

Herbert Engineering will launch their new 5m Barrel Washer at British Potato next week.

The new German government has given its support to the growing of Amflora GM potatoes.

Short-term closures at recession- hit Cavendish Farms could continue into 2010.

Heavy rain delayed the harvest of the Louisiana sweet potato crop last month.

Potato farmers and processors could benefit from improved yields and disease-resistant crops with the reintroduction of new GM varieties into US markets.

The magazines Potato Processing International and Potato Storage International have announced that the next annual Convention will take place during June 22-24, 2010, at the Roxburghe Hotel in Edinburgh's city centre.

The South African government has rejected an application from the Agriculture Research Council (ARC) to provide genetically modified potatoes to local farmers, saying it was concerned about its safety and economic effect.

The UK crop harvest to 9th October is estimated to be up on last year's figures.

British Potato 2009's hotline and online ticket registration has gone live.

World-leading agri-business Syngenta has pledged to donate to charity for every viewing of its ‘Healthy Potato' video on internet site You Tube until November 20.

Record-low temperatures in southwestern Idaho have threatened to destroy a portion of this season's crop of seed potatoes.

Potato farm land is set to increase in India as farmers attempt to recover paddy crop losses, driven by the unexpected price rise and delayed monsoons this year.

The United States Department of Agriculture has launched an online tool to promote a better understanding of the role of farmers' as food producers.

Sales of potato chips in the US have risen 22 per cent during the recession.

Food chain Nando's is celebrating the sale of its millionth bag of crisps sold since launching the range less than a year ago.

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning workers to take extra care during the harvest season following the death of a farm worker earlier this month.

The UK Potato Council has reported an ideal year for tuber development and forecasts that yields will be high across the country.

Branston Ltd will start building work next month on an anaerobic digestion plant in the UK turning waste potatoes into electricity.

UK supermarket chain The Co-op has launched its own exclusive variety of potatoes in-store.

Ukraine could set a record potato production this year according to Ukrainian press reports.

A British potato and onion storage system has been hailed as 'the greatest breakthrough in the seed potato sector' by judges at the PotatoEurope Conference 2009 in the Netherlands.

A farm-worker has been killed after falling into a potato harvester in Scotland.

Frito Lay has been awarded a $2 million grant for expansion and job-creation in Wisconsin, America.

The world's first racing car built with potato starch and cashew nut shells has been successfully test driven.

Imported potatoes will be price controlled in Malaysia for the Hari Raya Puasa festive season.

Belarus has raised import duties on potatoes according to the country's Ministry of  Agriculture.

Malawi has seen a bumper crop of sweet potato in the recent harvest season.

Sweden-based Lantmännen has announced the sale of its potato processing business.

As part of a plan to issue guidance on the reduction of acrylamide levels in food products, US regulators are calling out for scientific data and information on acrylamide in food.

The Indian state government is clamping down on potato hoarders now the price of spuds has risen to Rs 22 in many markets.

Potato trials conducted in Fiji at Nadrala and the Sigatoka Research Station have shown promising results.

A market analysis firm claims one in four companies are now loss making in the UK potato industry.

Health Canada has added acrylamide to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 in order to minimise the public's exposure to the chemical.

Russia's agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has quarantined 160 hectares of farmland in Ulyanovsk district in southern Russia after finding outbreaks of golden potato nematode disease, writes Peter Muccini.

Kharif potato prices are set to remain high after a delayed and deficient monsoon season in India puts pressure on demand.

Potato growers in part of Australia have been affected by a new strain of bacterial potato wilt.

THREE potato growers have struck success after forming a new UK company.

Scientists have discovered a blight-causing pathogen and are working to accelerate breeding of more durable, disease resistant potato varieties.

The New Zealand horticulture industry has launched a $1.5m three-year project to tackle the psyllid.

The UK Potato Council's benchmark model has been launched online for the first time to assist growers.

MBMG, a UK potato supplier, has gone into administration.

An aggressive strain of potato blight is causing concern to farmers across Britain and Ireland.

United States: There is light at the end of a twenty-year tunnel for a French fry vending machine project thanks to government state funding.

Over two decades ago a large manufacturers of frozen potatoes tried to perfect such a vending machine without success. Another attempt by a company in the 1990s that was deemed a scam also failed.

Today two businessmen from the town of Laurel in the State of Delaware in the United States say they have come up with the recipe for success.

An outbreak of late blight is spreading across the northeastern United States and could pose a problem for Ontario's crops if the summer continues to be wet and windy, plant experts say.

The spud has been voted the vegetable people in the UK would most like to be the national emblem of England.

Researchers in Ireland have found a valuable use for unwanted potato peel which could have the potential to control agricultural pests, improve health and combat cancer.

Indian potato farmers are struggling to keep up with demand as hot weather and disease have led to crop production being reduced by a fifth.

The new Urschel TranSlicer 2510 Cutter combines the production-proven features of the 2500 with today's industry-driven demands. The TranSlicer 2500 Cutter revolutionised the leafy vegetable industry when it was introduced in 1995.

Syngenta say the constant demand of potato crops for water in the hot dry weather is posing a serious headache for growers trying to maintain irrigation scheduling.

Potato growers in the Benguet area of the Philippines hoping to clinch a niche in the lucrative French fries market are still facing challenges.

The Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, has released a new potato variety Kufri Frysona. This is the first ever potato variety from India suitable for preparation of French fries.

New versatile uses of packaging waste materials from potato chip packets may potentially help companies reduce their environmental impacts according to US-based recycling group Terracycle.

"Acrylamide reduction of up to 80 per cent, without affecting the crispiness and taste in chips and snacks is feasible," said Inge Evers, Purac senior application technologist leading the project research.

The National Potato Council and United States Potato Board (USPB) are pleased to announce the US potato industry can now begin exporting fresh potatoes to Russia. A market access agreement between the United States and Russia was signed on 17 March 2009. The signed agreement provides for market access from all US states.

Even though American consumers are facing a tough time economically, snack foods are still important in their daily diets; although many have significantly changed their priorities when choosing their snacks as they look for the best value.

The Euro Potato report compiled by UK Potato Council and edited by Rob Burrow highlights numerous challenges the 2008 crop has already had to face from the impact of severe rainfall in late planting and in some European countries, difficult harvesting schedules.

24 March: The official closing ceremonies of the 7th World Potato Congress (WPC) at Christchurch, New Zealand, were highlighted by the presentation of the triennial Industry Awards. The awards recognize outstanding personal contribution and leadership, related to development and progress of the global potato industry.

Nitrogen applications for potato crops can be managed accurately for optimum yields and to reduce nitrogen leaching, a Plant & Food Research scientist told the international potato industry members gathered at the 7th World Potato Congress in Christchurch on Monday 23rd March.

Belgian potato specialist Lippens Aardappelen is planning on building a new depot.

Responding to the launch of the Food Standards Agency's saturated fat awareness campaign, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is rising to the challenge.

The United Kingdom has become Pepsico's testing ground and launch pad for hand-cooked potato chips. This process results in a "fresher-tasting, delicious product with the perfect crunch".

A survey conducted by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) has shown that Canadians are a contrary lot.

 

Worries that Canadians might be inadvertently ingesting too much cancer-causing acrylamide from French fries, potato chips and other processed foods has prompted Health Canada to recommend adding the chemical to the country's toxic substances list, reports www.potatopro.com.

Steamed products, beauty foods, detox products and munching on nuts are just some of the key trends in consumer packaged goods for the coming year...

National Starch Food Innovation has extended its Novation range of functional native starches with the launch of two new products that are instant, clean-label and said to stand up to the stresses of intense formulation processes.

A Madison botanist has been honored by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for his work on the evolution of potatoes.

Did you know that if you laid all the chips eaten in Great Britain each year end to end, they would take you around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit over 1.5 million times?... that's the equivalent of more than 26,000 British Grand Prix's!

The 18th annual National Chip Week, organised by the Potato Council, saw more than 800 chip shops take part last year so there's sure to be something happening near you in February 2009. During the week itself we will be revealing the winners of Great Britain's Perfect Portion awards, and Keith Chegwin will be on tour to find his own perfect portion.

Frozen French fries are the United States' most important potato export product. Income growth in countries such as China and India, has led to an increase in consumption of Western-type products like French fries.

 

However, in the short term, the economic downturn is expected to slow demand and slow investments in the potato sector, says a Rabobank focus report on the US potato industry.

"While the short-term outlook for the US potato sector is at best neutral, the long-term outlook for the US potato sector is positive, once the economy improves," said Rabobank analyst Marieke de Rijke.

The US is the world's fourth largest exporter of frozen French fries, after the Netherlands, Canada and Belgium.

"In order to maintain current export levels, it will be key for the potato sector to stand out in quality and customer relationships," said de Rijke.

The US has a strong position in frozen French fry exports due to a high-quality infrastructure, which is strongly desirable for exporting quality potatoes and potato products around the world. Exports have increased because of rising demand from developing regions, particularly Asia.

"The rapid pace at which the number of fast food restaurants in Asia is growing will continue to accelerate demand for frozen French fries in this region," said de Rijke.

Contrary to Asia's increased potato appetite, US potato consumption peaked about a decade ago. Potatoes were thought to be calorie-loaded and some fad diets gave the potato a bad reputation. ‘Watching carbs' and healthier lifestyles meant consumers started to favour rice over potatoes as a carbohydrate source.

In an effort to appeal to consumers, potato seed companies, as well as growers and processors, are working together to develop potato varieties that are lower in calories and have a higher nutritions value than the current varieties.

 

A new study has claimed that the humble potato chip can actually battle cancer, reports the The Times of India.

The full benefit of lower potato prices in 2008 was not passed on to the South African consumer, Potatoes SA (PSA) said last week. During 2008, the producer price of potatoes dropped by 45 percent, Mark du Plessis, CEO of PSA said.

 

Unprecedented UK demand for impartial quality automation audits and consultancy has resulted in CenFRA, Europe's first centre for food robotics and automation, receiving a further million pounds investment.

 

With costs and benefits varying from field to field, not every farmer will spend money on every high-tech approach to growing crops for an increasingly complex global market, writes Brad Carlson in Bakingbusiness.com.

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"Can you justify the expense with the income side to offset it?" farmer Paul Ragsgorshek asked, rhetorically. He has used some high-tech approaches and passed up others at his 1,700-acre farm south of Nampa.

A farmer might not tap all the most up-to-date tools available, he said, but keeping track of new developments is increasingly important. Using science, technology and advanced data tracking can help the farmer maximize yield per acre in a market that fluctuates substantially.

Bill Whitacre, president of Boise-based J.R. Simplot Co. 's AgriBusiness Group, said in an interview that more crop-producing customers of the $4.5 billion-a-year food and agribusiness corporation are answering ancient farming questions with science and technology.

The world economy's rising middle class includes people who want to buy better foods, and the supply of arable acres per capita continues to shrink because of population growth and other factors, he said.

Chasing higher yields is just part of the equation, Whitacre said. Farmers also have to farm in a sustainable way, protecting the environment as well as paying attention to fundamental economics. For farmers, "The real opportunities are going to manifest themselves through technology.

"They're hungry for it," he said. "They want to be part of it. "

Companies that develop and supply the technology face the challenge of making it practical as well as more accessible and affordable, Whitacre said. It also must come to market fairly quickly.

Farming has lagged behind the consumer-products and packaged-goods markets in adopting technology and in gathering and managing data, but the gap is narrowing, Simplot Market Development Director Vince Restucci said. Much of this technology has become readily transferable from manufacturing to farming.

That is occurring as the public gains awareness about environmental sustainability and learns more about how and where food is produced, and as processors demand more details about the growers from whom they buy, he said.

Simplot sees more of its crop-producer customers asking about and using the company's "Farm of the Future" products and services, Restucci said.

Examples include nitrogen fertilizers designed to boost yield while leaving less unused nitrogen in the soil, an economic and environmental benefit; equipping farm vehicles with global positioning satellites to increase operators' efficiency; using harvest-monitoring devices; making the best use of soil samples; and gathering data on the health and production history of crop fields down to 2 acres.

Using such technologies and approaches could help farmers determine how much fertilizer or pesticide to apply to certain areas of a field or identify high-payoff crops, fields and parts of fields, Restucci said.

Whitacre said farmers will use only the innovations that make economic sense on their own farms. For example, to increase yield, a farmer can simply apply more fertilizer; but, he said, the goal should be to increase yield and reduce the amount of nitrogen left over, an efficiency that can benefit the farmer's bottom line and the environment.

Simplot formulates and markets fertilizer additions that aim to boost not just a plant's growth, but its efficiency as well, Restucci said. The idea is to make the plant take more of the fertilizer "up" - into the growth process - and leave less in the soil, where it could run into the water supply or penetrate the soil too deeply for future use.

Seed technology has advanced greatly in recent years, he said. Simplot does not formulate or produce seeds, but the company does distribute it to farmers.

Trent ­­Clark, a Monsanto Co. spokesman based in Soda Springs, said the "Produce More, Conserve More" motto of the company's development efforts reflects that farming must be profitable as well as sustainable.

The Monsanto-owned Seminis, which operates in south-central and southwest Idaho, is working to develop seeds that enable farmers to boost vegetable yields by enough to offset additional up-front cost, he said.

Company scientists also are busy developing and testing seeds bred for increased drought tolerance, Clark said. Corn is the furthest along in the process, followed by soy and cotton. Seminis is targeting canola, a major crop in north Idaho.

"What we are hearing from farmers is that the key element of this technology is that it needs to deliver value to the consumers," he said. A Seminis-developed seed that has been shown to grow into soybeans containing reduced levels of LDL cholesterol, known as bad cholesterol, exemplifies a product that consumers have accepted, he said.

"The challenge right now is just the economy, and the fact that growth and expansion is hard when capital is tight," ­­­Clark said.

Ragsgorshek said his farm does not do any grid sampling, which means breaking down portions of each field for detailed analysis. His farm does sample and monitor soil to determine how much water and fertilizer to apply, and when. The farm uses GPS systems on tractors to increase the efficiency of both employees and equipment, and Ragsgorshek closely tracks each field's costs and production.

Because the farm has multiple small fields, he does not use grid sampling. "It hasn't fit into our program, and I haven't seen the necessity of it yet," he said. "If we had very large fields, it may be something different. "

Ragsgorshek said he is considering changing his fertilizer strategy eventually. "There's some technology coming out in timed-release fertilizers that is being looked at, specifically in nitrogen. "

The first part of 2008 began as a banner year for spuds.

"But then all of a sudden in the fourth quarter of 2008, things started to change," Dale Lathim said, Executive Director of the Potato Growers of Washington.

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Despite how good the french fries are, the economy forced less of you to buy them. And it put a huge strain on potato growers and processors. By last month, sales dipped.

"When processors saw those numbers, that put the brakes on everything. The potato world changed overnight," Dale Lathim said, Executive Director of the Potato Growers of Washington.

Suddenly, growers and processors scrambled to scale back. Dozens of orders had to be re-arranged. And too few acres of potatoes were now too many.

Then last week, processors quietly announced they were immediately cutting the amount of potato contracts. French fry demand was way down. They blamed increased costs, a weak economy and changes in fast-food menus.

The big three processors, Lamb Weston (the potato- processing division of Con-Agra Foods), J.R. Simplot and McCain Foods could cut back as much as 20 percent.

"It's going to effect us all," Lathim said. But he stays positive.

"This is our storm for 2009 and I'm sure we'll weather it just like the others."

Potato starch, say scientists with Canada's Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has the same thickening properties of corn starch.

A Scottish fish and chip shop with the royal seal of approval has won the 2008 national Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition. The Anstruther Fish Bar in Fife received the award at a London ceremony on 22 January.

Troyer Potato Products Inc., which bills itself as the US's only grower-owned chip maker, has agreed to sell itself to York-based Bickel's Snack Foods Inc.

Key Technology has introduced Manta for potato chips/crisps. This state-of-the-art high volume sorter features a two-metre wide scan area that dramatically increases throughput within a space-saving footprint.

All About Food, the company that successfully puts restaurant brands on supermarket shelves, has expanded into the snack market with the launch of Nando's Peri-Peri Chips.

As consumers feel the pinch of recession, they are likely to shun pricier fresh produce and head for cheaper fare in supermarket freezers, predicted the chief executive officer of frozen foods firm Pinguin.

Many Russian consumers believe potato crisps and other savoury snack foods to be potentially harmful.

The Darwin and the Indiana Jones of potato discovery, Professor Carlos Ochoa, of Peru, died this month (December, 2008).

 

Potato farmers facing difficulties in the wake of severe rains this fall are eligible for emergency income support through a new joint Canada-PEI Potato Assistance Program, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced on 10 December.

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"We worked quickly with farmers and the Government of PEI to develop a response to this situation," said Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "I am pleased that funds are now going to producers to help them during this difficult time."

This autumn saw excessively wet weather create a number of problems for PEI producers including harvesting challenges, potatoes standing in water and disease. "Many potato producers are facing difficulties due to the wet harvest conditions this fall," said PEI Minister of Agriculture Neil LeClair. "These payments going out now will help those producers to offset some of their losses."

Payments are now being mailed to eligible PEI potato producers affected by severe rains this autumn. The $12.4 million PEI Potato Assistance Program is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments on a 60-40 basis. The assistance program provides an incentive for producers not to harvest diseased or spoiled potatoes in an effort to reduce the risk of further spoilage of unaffected potatoes in storage. The program also encourages environmentally sound disposal of diseased or spoiled potatoes.

Under the program PEI producers in AgriInsurance will receive a guaranteed payment of 75 per cent of the insured value of their unharvested potatoes. In addition, all PEI potato producers will receive one cent a pound to cover the extra costs of destroying spoiled potatoes. The PEI potato program is delivered provincially.

Source: posted by 21food.com, 10 Dec 2008.

Food and beverage giant Pepsico is planning to increase its sourcing of raw materials from contract farming and venture into new Indian. The company's foods business unit, Frito-Lay, procures 50 per cent of potatoes, required for making chips and strips, from contract farming in eight states across the country.

A new study from China has found that curcumin, the natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow colour, may reduce the potential detrimental effects of acrylamide.

THE delay in the European Union's decision on the marker gene nptII used in BASF's genetic potato Amflora could deprive farmers and the potato starch industry of €100-200 million in income as commercial cultivation for 2009 has been ruled out as a result.

French ingredients company and starch specialist Roquette is aiming for Russia's growing food market with its opening of a new sales subsidiary in Moscow.

From happy to sad. Indian potato growers, who were in a happy mood last year because of bumper production and who even preferred to store their produce in cold storage to sell later, are now disappointed because prices have declined and they are finding it difficult to sell their produce.

 

Habasit, a leading manufacturer of high-quality conveyor and power transmission belting products, has opened a new fabrication and administration facility in Cordignano, north-eastern Italy.

Shearer's Foods, home of Shearer's Award Winning Snacks, was one of 14 Northeast Ohio companies to participate in MAGNET's (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) Second Annual Competitiveness Challenge.

The winners of the prestigious 2008 IGD Food Industry Awards were recently announced, highlighting achievements in a wide range of areas from sustainability, health and wellness, supply chain excellence, and outstanding performance of small businesses.
"All of the finalists show that, even in challenging times, innovation and best practice are at the forefront of the food and grocery industry. These awards recognise the best in class, and demonstrate some of the most exciting new thinking in food and grocery," Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive of IGD, said.
Among the winners were:
The Co-Operative Group, which took out the Unilever Award For Social Innovation for its ‘From Farm to Fork' project. The award is presented to the company which can demonstrate that it is doing well by doing good. ‘From Farm to Fork' is now a national UK program involving Co-operative farms across the UK. The scheme brings primary schoolchildren to the farms where they are encouraged to understand the countryside, try new vegetables and learn about how crops turn into the foods they eat. 10,000 schoolchildren have now spent a day on a Co-operative farm.
Compass Group UK & Ireland claimed the John Sainsbury Award for Learning and Development - which recognises commitment to people development. The company developed ‘One Compass Welcome', a short e-learning programme for new colleagues for completion on or before their first working day. It gives colleagues an introduction to Compass and can be effective for 30,000 new colleagues per year.
The Nestlé Wellness Award, awarded to the company that has made a real impact in terms of making healthier eating and drinking choices for consumers, was won by McCain Foods. McCain developed Purely Potato, a range developed to be cooked without oil, which presents caterers with an unrestricted starchy carbohydrate choice, and also appeals to children. The range is already being used in over 1,000 schools across the UK, and is used by more than 25 Local Authorities.

 

 

Despite the availability of indigenous raw potatoes for snacks production, Jammu and Kashmir imports potato chips worth 100 crores (€1.5million),every year. The Valley region produces more than 20,000 tons of potatoes annually.

New data showed snacks sales are holding up in the tough economy said analysts on Thursday 14 November, said an article published by CNNMoney.com.
"Snack trends have held up despite deteriorating macros and price increases," Morgan Stanley analyst Bill Pecoriello told investors in a research note. He said the sales volume declines in the past four weeks were an improvement over recent period and year-to-date trends.

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Goldman Sachs analyst Judy Hong said ACNielsen data showed sales volume fell by a modest 2 percent as snack makers raised prices by 11 per cent.
PepsiCo Inc.'s Frito-Lay unit, the biggest multinational snack seller, reported solid sales in October, Hong noted.
"We are encouraged Frito has arrested salty snack volume share declines while getting pricing, but remain concerned about competitive vulnerabilities in the face of widening price gaps and spreading macro weakness," the analyst noted.
Potato chips are roughly one-third of Frito's volume base, and Hong said that made it vulnerable to losing market share to Pringles or regional and private-label brands as PepsiCo raises its prices to offset commodity costs.
Sales of potato chips were especially vulnerable in markets where housing was weakest, Hong said.
Shares of PepsiCo rose $1.20, or 2.3 per cent, to $54.30 in afternoon trading. Shares of Procter & Gamble, which owns the Pringles brand, rose $1.65, or 2.7 per cent, to $63.50.

Dynamic companies that exploit opportunities and maximise efficiencies will survive the downturn and emerge stronger.

At least that's the message from Seamus McGuckin, a corporate banking director at Ulster Bank, who says that "waiting for the business environment to turn around is not an option," according to an article published in The Belfast Telegraph.

FROM Slovenia to the United States and Australia to Denmark, acrylamide has been a point of interest for some time. Some of our most popular processed foods contain small amounts of toxic acrylamide.

 

The National Farmers Union (NFU) which represents farmers and growers in England and Wales, has warned EU agriculture ministers against the dangers of introducing new distortions and complexities into the Common Agricultural Policy.

 

As an initiative to promote the International Year of the Potato and UN goals, the UN has launched ‘The Potato: Around the Globe in 200 Recipes,' a cookbook filled with recipes that demonstrate the versatility of the humble spud. The book was launched on 6 November by the UN Economic Commission.

It demonstrates how the potato has become firmly cemented internationally, in the centuries following its transportation to Europe by the first explorers to Latin America including English maritime hero Sir Walter Raleigh, who presented the exotic vegetable to Queen Elizabeth I.

In Italy potatoes are stuffed with mascarpone, in Germany they are turned into sausages and in Moldova they're blended into soup with cheese and chives.
From "Boranie Katschalu" in Afghanistan - fried potatoes, cheese, garlic and mint - to a chicken, veal, potato and banana stew from Venezuela, called Sancocho, the book shows the versatility of the vegetable and what can be done with a bit of imagination.
It's the world's fourth most important food after maize, wheat and rice, and it's also good for you, rich in carbohydrates, potassium and Vitamin C.
"The potato is one of the world's healthiest root vegetables, with a larger high-quality protein content than that of other roots and tubers," commented UN Economic Commission for Europe official Pier Giacomo Bianchi, who is responsible for standardising seed potatoes to facilitate international trade in the crop.
"We work towards ensuring that only healthy and high-yielding seed potatoes enter the international market," he said.
he book was launched on 6 November the UN Economic Commission.
The cookbook shows how truly international the potato has become in the centuries following its transportation to Europe by the first explorers to Latin America including English maritime hero Sir Walter Raleigh, who presented the exotic vegetable to Queen Elizabeth I.

In Italy potatoes are stuffed with mascarpone, in Germany they are turned into sausages and in Moldova they're blended into soup with cheese and chives.

From "Boranie Katschalu" in Afghanistan - fried potatoes, cheese, garlic and mint - to a chicken, veal, potato and banana stew from Venezuela, called Sancocho, the book shows the versatility of the vegetable and what can be done with a bit of imagination.

The potato is the world's fourth most important food after maize, wheat and rice, and it's also good for you, rich in carbohydrates, potassium and Vitamin C.

"The potato is one of the world's healthiest root vegetables, with a larger high-quality protein content than that of other roots and tubers," commented UN Economic Commission for Europe official Pier Giacomo Bianchi, who is responsible for standardising seed potatoes to facilitate international trade in the crop.

"We work towards ensuring that only healthy and high-yielding seed potatoes enter the international market," he said.

South Africa's Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has developed a new potato
variety resistant to the potato tuber moth, a major pest causing millions worth of harvest loss in major solanaceous crops.

 

A consortium of scientists worldwide have joined forces to sequence the genome of the potato, pooling their resources and expertise, working to crack the genetic code of the world's number one non-grain food commodity, at a time of surging population growth and high food prices.

This comes after their sister company in the United States, Frito Lay, owned by PepsiCo Inc, agreed to reduce the levels of carcinogens in their crisps under a settlement announced by the Los Angeles state attorney general's office last week.

Simba CEO Lauren Siebrits said while there were many studies under way to determine how acrylamide - formed by cooking certain foods at high temperatures - might affect human health, they were being ‘very cautious' and had taken prudent steps to reduce the levels in products here.

PepsiCo's commitment to addressing acrylamide and developing ways to reduce levels in its products is consistent with the company's record of leadership in the health and wellness arena.

"Similar to the removal of trans-fats from snack chips and in a global effort to lower saturated fat and sodium levels, taking steps to reduce acrylamide is one more way to ensure PepsiCo products are the safest for consumers.

"In South Africa, we have already launched a range of better-for-you products such as the Sunbites range, which includes pretzels and Air Pops as well as Baked Simba, which are baked and have no trans-fats, no added MSG, no tartrazine and no artificial colourants," said Siebrits

In 2005 the United States government also sued McDonalds, Wendy's International Inc, Burger King and KFC over acrylamide levels. Those lawsuits were settled after companies agreed to either properly label their products or lower levels of the chemical.