Most consumer potato varieties are not yet sufficiently resistant to heat and drought, concluded Ben Bredek of 3 Point Potatoes, a trading company in Jabik, Limburg, reports portal Nieuweoogst.nl. As a consultant, he participates in the pilot project "Sustainable cultivation of consumer potatoes".
About forty table French varieties of potatoes are grown in the test field in Jabiq. The focus is on varieties that require less nitrogen, tolerate drought and heat well, and sometimes have late blight resistance.
These factors are of great importance for the pilot project because 2022 was dry and hot for the fourth time in five years. Temperatures above 35 degrees are detrimental to plants. In this case, the potato suffers more from heat than from drought.
In addition to the French fry factories, it is also important to involve packaging companies and seed firms in the pilot project, Bredek said.
In addition, parties involved in the table varieties pilot project are studying the YNTN virus. This virus forms vesicles and rings on the skin, which is detrimental to tubers, which should be suitable for washing.
The Sustainable Consumer Potato Project is part of the Plant Health Practice Program.