APH Group with its headquarters in the Netherlands recently concluded a multi-million Euro contract with a Russian enterprise to deliver machines and installations for the organic production of potatoes and vegetables. The project is being implemented in the South of Russia and will be the largest organic potato and vegetable farm in Russia. The customer is a Russian entrepreneur who[Read More…]
Asia, India, China, Middle East
Trend: More Chinese taking to potatoes
Foods made from potatoes are reportedly more popular than before in China, although the prices are slightly higher. The changes have come about as China began boosting the total potato cultivation acreage, making the potato one of the country’s top staples to better ensure food security under the pressure of dwindling farmland, water and labor assets, among other issues. According to[Read More…]
Researchers from the US, Indonesia and Bangladesh creating GMO potato to fight late blight
Researchers from the U.S., Indonesia and Bangladesh is creating a genetically-engineered potato to fight the late blight. The disease remains an issue for farmers worldwide, especially in Bangladesh, where many struggle with hunger. “Late blight is the number one constraint for potato production, and Bangladesh has a perfect environment for this disease,” said Jim Bradeen, co-director of the University’s Stakman-Borlaug Center[Read More…]
Russia blocks two potato shipments imported from Egypt
Russia’s agricultural quarantine authorities flagged two potato shipments from Egypt that were found to be contaminated with potato brown rot. The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Egypt denied the allegation that Russia has imposed bans on potato imports from Egypt due to a lack of quality. He stressed that Russia has not placed a blanket ban on Egypt’s potato exports[Read More…]
Ban on Turkish potatoes due to fears of potato wart disease spread
The former Soviet republic of Georgia in the Caucasus region is reportedly banning the import of potatoes from Turkey for a three-month period because of the danger of the spread of potato wart disease (or black scab; potato canker). Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has already signed this order. Potato wart is considered a most serious and devastating disease for potatoes. Synchytrium[Read More…]
Seeds of Change: True potato seed trialled in Bangladesh
The production of potatoes from “true potato seed” (TPS) is being trialled in Nilphamari, Bangladesh. This method involves allowing potato plants to mature until they produce male and female flowers. With cross-pollination the plants then bear a greenish fruit about the size of a small tomato. The fruit are full of seeds. These “true seeds” can later be planted to[Read More…]
Australian potato market opens up in Indonesia after trade discussions
Australian potato growers are winning new access to valuable Indonesian markets after a decade-long campaign opened the potential to export up to 85,000 tonnes of seed potatoes with a market value of some $110 million annually. A new agreement to take certified seed potatoes from South Australia and Victoria in Indonesia was made at recent trade discussions in Melbourne, following 10[Read More…]
New potato processing plant to be built in Russia
The Smolensk region in Russia wants to develop the region’s economy, with a great emphasis on the development of the “Feniks” State Industrial Park. One of the investments that is going to be implemented in this Park is the project to build a plant for the processing of potatoes and the production of natural and modified starch. According to estimates this[Read More…]
Dutch chips are a hit in South Korea
Phytosanitary rules stipulate that fresh potatoes and potato seeds may not be exported from the Netherlands to South Korea. Only a few regions in Japan, the USA, and Australia are allowed to send fresh potatoes to South Korea. Processed potatoes, such as chips can, however, be freely imported since they do not fall under these same phytosanitary rules. Dutch companies[Read More…]
Has Calbee’s profit slump put PepsiCo partnership in balance?
Japanese snack giant Calbee posted a profit decline for its third quarter results for fiscal year ending March 31, 2018 due to sharp slowdown in North America, possibly putting its business partnership with PepsiCo on the line. Under the reigns of chairman and CEO Akira Matsumoto, Calbee has consistently posted double-digit profit growth since going public in 2011. However, according[Read More…]
Farmers in Bengal trained to produce their own potato seed
In an effort towards making farmers produce potato seeds on their own and use them for cultivation, the West Bengal Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (WBAICL) is providing training to farmers at Simlapal in Bankura district of Bengal. The move by the state is aimed at stopping import of potato seed from Punjab, which is often of inferior quality. “We have[Read More…]
Potato growers rejoice as Indonesia extends Australian seed potato access
The Indonesian market beckons for Australian seed potato farmers, after market access to the South East Asian nation was extended today (16 February Indonesian/Australian time). The deal paves the way for suppliers from Victoria and South Australia to commence trade immediately. “This is a fantastic result for farmers in these two states — as major seed potato producers — and builds on[Read More…]
GMO potato can help Bangladeshi farmers cut pesticide use
Bangladesh is the world’s seventh-largest producer of potatoes. Most of the crop is grown by small-holder farmers. To help small-holder farmers, the Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership based at Michigan State University in the US, is using the tools of biotechnology to develop a genetically engineered potato resistant to late blight disease. The Partnership will develop and bring to market[Read More…]
Aviko doubles french fry capacity in China
Aviko is considerably increasing the processing capacity of its chip (french fry) factory in Chabei, China. The installation of a new processing line more than doubles capacity, and amounts to more than 100,000 tonnes of fries per year. “The chip market is growing remarkably quickly in China,” Dick Zelhorst from Aviko Potato explains. “We want to take maximum advantage of that.[Read More…]
China to review anti-dumping duties on EU potato starch following local concerns
China will review anti-dumping duties levied on potato starch imported from the EU, which are due to expire on Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Monday. The review was requested by the China Starch Industry Association over concerns that domestic producers might suffer if the duties are scrapped. During the investigation, which will start on Tuesday and will probably last a year,[Read More…]
10th World Potato Congress a tribute to Peru, the origin of modern-day potatoes
Potatoes were first taken out of Peru, their Andean region of origin, 458 years ago and introduced to the rest of the world, and then went on to feed the world, according to a news report by the Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency. Half a millennium later, potatoes have spread throughout the planet but there are challenges to preserve[Read More…]
China sending potatoes, weeds along with humans to the moon
Several countries across the world are currently eyeing earth’s celestial companion; among which China is one of the most promising contenders, planning to send not only astronauts. but also the eggs of silkworms, a tiny weed named Arabidopsis (rockcress), and potato plants to the moon by the end of the year. “The eggs will hatch into silkworms, which can produce carbon dioxide,[Read More…]
India: Punjab to export potatoes to Russia and Middle East; eyeing Europe and the Americas also
Four months after farmers dumped potatoes on roads in some parts of the state, seeking remunerative price for the produce, the Punjab government has allowed the export of potatoes to Russia and the Middle East. The past few years have witnessed surplus production of potatoes in the state. This glut in production and no buyers due to demonetisation over the past[Read More…]
Peru does not have a potato processing plant, despite increasing demand
Last Tuesday, farmers and producers of white potatoes raised their voices and went on strike because of the fall in tuber prices. According to farmers, prices started to fall because of the import of pre-fried potatoes from countries like the Netherlands and the US. The pre-fried potatoes are white potatoes that are ready to be fried and be used in meals.[Read More…]
Pringles releases sukiyaki flavoured potato chips in Japan
In Japan, big international brands know how to keep their customers interested throughout the year, with exclusive limited-edition flavours and irresistible seasonal releases. Last year, Pringles decided to pay homage to Japan’s beloved fried octopus balls, with a takoyaki flavour limited for sale in the Kansai region, where the delicacy originated, and now the stackable snack chip giant is continuing with their regional[Read More…]
India: Cold weather causing potato crop failures
Extreme cold weather in northeast India has claimed its first casualty: the potato. Farmers on the fringes of the state capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi, say low temperatures have ruined more than half of their crops and a supply crisis was imminent in city markets, which by default will jack up prices of the otherwise humble vegetable. Deepak Mahto, an elderly farmer, said they[Read More…]
Japan now has french fry ice cream sundaes…
Japanese fast food chain First Kitchen has a bit of an image problem, in that it really doesn’t have much of an image. First Kitchen is often so low-key that it’s easy to overlook the chain, but we’re sure that its newest item, french fry sundaes, will help keep it in people’s minds. Going on this week at First Kitchen and First Kitchen/Wendy’s[Read More…]
Research finding: When pests graze certain potatoes, yields double
When some Colombian potato varieties are lightly grazed by a pest, the plants respond by growing larger tubers, at times doubling their yields. Although many types of plants can repair pest damage while maintaining productivity, it’s rare to find species that actually overcompensate and increase productivity. Cornell University and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia researchers first discovered this effect in a[Read More…]
China intends to grow potatoes on the dark side of the moon by the end of the year
The moon has been neglected for far too long, and China seems keen on moving fast to cover all the lost lunar ground. The nation’s ambitious space program, among other things, is set on achieving several important milestones. A trifecta, consisting of a lunar probe, lander, and rover, will be deployed to the moon’s orbit and surface respectively. This will be[Read More…]
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