European potato players have faced significant challenges this season as adverse weather has left some growers beleaguered. At a time when Jersey Royal potatoes have been hit by the worst drought for 34 years, European producers have battled against heavy rains, frost and freezing temperatures.
These conditions have had a significant effect on early potato production by not only delaying early crop plantings but also restricting and slowing planting in key areas. Producers are hoping for some respite this year, but they are uncertain about how the season will pan out.
“Imports to European markets are later and lighter in volume than in most recent seasons,” says Jim Davies, senior potato analyst for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). “Plantings in Spain are 50 per cent down compared with 2009 and production in Israel is estimated to be 30 per cent lower. The Cypriot spring crop is estimated to be down 30 per cent in yield, and dry and cold conditions in Jersey have also delayed deliveries.”
Stock levels are higher throughout Europe and stored quality has hit the availability of premium potatoes for packing and processing. However, the late start to new-season imports, as well as delayed local production, will help to utilise stocks.
Mother Nature has been particularly unkind to Spain this year and a wide range of crops, from lettuce to potatoes, has faced her wrath. Heavy rain throughout southern Spain in mid-December hindered planting and production, while cold weather delayed plantings in northern Spain. Even before the start of the season, plantings were expected to fall due to the low returns that growers had achieved in recent years.
Production in southern Spain is expected to fall substantially on 2009 levels and exports will also be affected.
The picture in France is mixed but, according to a report by the Potato Council, the season is later than usual, with few early potatoes expected to be available before 10 June. Cold, wet weather in February delayed the planting of early crops in Brittany and Pierre Gélébart, product manager of Prince de Bretagne, says there will be fewer potatoes sourced from the region this season. “This is not due to the weather, but it is because prices last season were too bad,” he tells FPJ. “Normally, we can expect a good season, but there were still a lot of old crops in both France and England in late April so we shall see - every day is different.”
Brittany produces a range of potato varieties including Starlette, Lady Christl and Nicola. The vast majority of Prince de Bretagne’s potato production is consumed in France and the company says exports represent “a small market of opportunity”. Indeed, exports to the UK have fallen significantly in recent years, with less than 500 tonnes shipped last year.
Elsewhere, a deluge of rain and freezing temperatures has hit Cyprus. In early March, growers were caught between crops, with delays in the harvest of the winter crop due to rain. Farmers in the Famagusta district say their crops have faced extensive damage and have called on the country’s farmers’ association to visit potato plantations and evaluate the damage for compensation.
Spunta accounts for the majority of volumes shipped to the UK, although Diamante, Marfona and Cara are also sent.
According to potato firm Aviko, the cold weather conditions have not affected the price of potatoes used for industrial processing to any large extent. However, the industry as a whole is keeping a close eye on the weather. “To keep up good potato quality until the end of the season, high temperatures in spring and summer are more of a threat than low temperatures in wintertime,” explains Jan Willem Peters, commercial manager for Aviko.
Aviko has invested in growing varieties such as Agria, Victoria and Innovator on good-quality soils close to where potatoes are processed at its production plants. These initiatives save on transport costs and help the firm to achieve its environmental targets.
Peters says that Aviko’s motto - “creating value from potatoes” - refers to the complete supply chain, from farmer to consumer. “Our goal is to produce products that match the best farmers and processing skills with the highest consumer demands. In the dynamic market that we operate in, we are convinced of a challenging and promising future for our brand and our products,” he adds.
Aviko has begun operating study groups with its farmers to exchange knowledge in order to improve quality and reduce costs. “More and more, we collect quality data of all the potatoes that we contract with the farmers, so that we know all the possible quality aspects of our raw material in advance,” Peters says.
The north-west European potato processing sector has made significant investments in its operations over the last five years. In particular, Belgium has expanded its processing capacity in recent times.
Meanwhile, potato growers in Andalusia are hoping that the new campaign highlighting their produce will find favour. Using the slogan, ‘All in good time’, the Spanish potato growers’ association going by the name of Andalusian Early Potatoes has launched a new campaign image to promote its potato exports in key European markets. More than 30 per cent of production is exported to Europe, including the UK, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
As the sector gears up for increased activity, potato farmers are on a constant look out for potato pest and disease threats. Climate change and international trade are blamed for crops being more susceptible to recent outbreaks.
Ring rot is caused by bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis and is one of the most devastating diseases to the potato industry. In 2008-09, outbreaks were recorded in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and parts of eastern Europe.
Closer to home, Scotland has introduced a zero-tolerance policy on Dickeya solani, a more aggressive form of blackleg, in order to protect potato crops this season. The policy, which was introduced in April and has been incorporated into the Scottish Seed Potato Classification Scheme (SPCS), covers all classes of potato seed entered under the scheme.
Although Dickeya solani has never been found in potato seed of Scottish origin, imports are a potential introductory route for the disease, says Mark Prentice, head of seed and export at the Potato Council. But last year, 10 cases of Dickeya solani were found in England and Wales, while two cases were found in ware crops grown from imported seed in Scotland. Dickeya solani has also been found in a number of European countries, including Belgium, France, Spain and Poland.
Seed potato breeders are constantly trying to develop potato varieties that are less vulnerable to diseases such as blight, says Peters. “The knowledge and means to prevent and/or fight these diseases get better each year,” he adds.
As the spotlight remains on the European potato sector, details of the Europatat 2010 congress have been finalised. The event will be hosted in Edinburgh by the British Potato Trade Association next week. The seminar, Potatoes without Frontiers, will discuss European potato trade in relation to the free market or protectionism and the British integrated supply chain in the past, present and future. Speakers will include Jim McLaren, president of the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, David Walker OBE, chairman of the Fresh Potato Suppliers’ Association, Yaniv Yablonka of the Israeli Potato and Vegetable Export Company and Carmel McQuaid, sustainable development manager for Marks & Spencer.
APPROVAL OF GM AMFLORA potato CAUSES A STIR
John Dalli, European Commissioner for health and consumer policy, has defended the decision to give the go ahead to BASF’s genetically modified Amflora potato.
“I am not in favour of or against GMOs, but I follow science-based decision making,” he says. “Where the thorough scientific assessment of a product concludes that the legal requirements are fulfilled, I see no reason to withhold authorisation... I am pro-innovation, but not at any price.”
The EC gave the green light to Amflora in early March. Amflora is a starch potato developed specifically for industrial use and can be used to make paper and concrete, although the by-products can be used in animal feed.
Peter Eckes, president of BASF Plant Science, says the way is now clear for commercial cultivation of Amflora. It looks set to be grown in Sweden, Germany and the Czech Republic later this year.
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