The European Potato Trade Association, or Europatat, had its annual General Assembly meeting in Brussels, Belgium, recently. The members of Europatat have chosen a new Board to govern the organization in the upcoming year, and they are pleased to welcome Vlastimil Rasocha as Vice President.

“The European potato community gathered again in Brussels (Belgium) in the context of the Europatat Congress 2024. During today’s meeting of the General Assembly, a new Board member has been elected, with Vlastimil Rasocha, representing the Czech Potato Association (CBS) and being appointed to replace outgoing Vice President, Domenico Citterio (Fruitimprese, Italy), who has successfully been part of Europatat’s Board for the last eight years. Tigran Richter (NORIKA, Germany) will continue as President of the Association, and Heero Gramsma (Luonnosta Holland) as Treasurer,” according to a recent press release.

Additionally, based on the existing Strategy 2022-2025, the membership of Europatat has approved the association’s finances as well as the primary priorities for 2024 and 2025. While important subjects like trade, plant health, and food safety will continue to be at the forefront of Europatat’s goals for the upcoming year, other dossiers like nutrition, sustainability reporting and measurement, and research on potatoes are also becoming more and more significant in the organization’s operations. A summary of the Association’s activities since June 2023 is provided in the Europatat’s 2023–2024 Activity Report, which was also given to the membership during the GA meeting.

The Czech Potato Association, or Český bramborářský svaz, has been a member of Europatat for several decades. Vlastimil Rasocha is their representative. Rasocha also serves as the Managing Director of Medipo Agras, a family-run business based in the Czech Republic that imports and grows seed potatoes as well as trades and packages ware potatoes. In addition, Vlastimil Rasocha, who chairs the RUCIP Commission of Europatat, has been a member of the advisory committee since 2022.

“I would like to thank the members of Europatat for their trust. I hope to build on the excellent work of Domenico Citterio. One of my goals will also be to raise public awareness about potatoes as a healthy food, which is grown according to the principles of sustainable agriculture in farming practices,” Vlastimil Rasocha, the new Europatat Vice President, concluded.