On he occasion of the Europatat Congress, we have had the opportunity to interview Mr. Kees van Arendonk, outgoing president of the European Potato Trade Association (Europatat), regarding the current challenges and opportunities for the sector. At this edition of Europatat, a new board has been elected. Europatat welcomes re-elected member, Jos Muyshondt as new Europatat President, as well as Domenico Citterio and Gilles Fontaine in the role of vice-president and treasurer respectively. 

How would you describe the current market situation for the wholesale potato traders, taking into account the feedback you receive from members of the association?

On a European scale, the season 2015/16 (harvested in 2015; put on the market 2016 till now) the wholesale potato traders have had an average year. However, one should divide the potato sector in different segments: seed potatoes have a steady start for a healthy potato production, whether it is in Europe or in one of the many countries where it is worldwide exported to. Potatoes for processing are also growing steadily, since Europe plays a major role in the world wide potato processing market, while table potatoes for fresh consumption are becoming an honest healthy and interesting part of our food again. Consumption per capita decreased over the years, but with the help of promotion campaigns, potato is “in the picture” again.

Please comment on the importance of sustainable practices and the level of adherence to such practices by potato growers and traders.

You could mention that water supply and feeding the world in the future as two main topics for both the UN, national governments and other different decision bodies. Potato is the No 1 crop among the Big Food Crops, producing most calories per sqm, with the least of amount water. In other words, a country like China is heavily promoting the potato production and processing to feed its people in the future, a model which is being taken over by more countries nowadays.

Referring to technology and new technological developments for potatoes, how would these influence the segment in the near-to-mid-term future?

GPS technology in combination with drone technology is developing very rapidly, which will lead to better and more efficient yields. New breeding techniques will lead to new varieties with new possibilities. This does not imply GMO, which in Europe still is a “non-issue”, while in the rest of the world we see rapid developments in this field. Europatat is in favor of an open political discussion on this issue, based on arguments and facts and regrets that the actual discussion is mainly based on emotions fed by NGO´s

What are the main challenges associated with wholesale potato trading in Europe and what solutions are foreseeable?

Keep potato trendy, interesting, valuable for consumers! Solutions are the national or EU promotion campaigns, in which Europatat plays a coordinating and facilitating role, among others.

The full version of this interview will be available soon on our website.