Fully booked INTERPOM | PRIMEURS 2018 certainly worth your visit
INTERPOM | PRIMEURS, the indoor trade fair for the whole potato & vegetable sector in Europe, will take place from Sunday 25 to Tuesday 27 November 2018 at Kortrijk Xpo (Belgium).
The trade fair is widely acclaimed as the largest indoor potato trade fair in the world where the entire chain is represented: from growing to processing and marketing. INTERPOM PRIMEURS 2018 was already fully booked months before the start with 321 exhibitors showcasing a particularly comprehensive and specialised range of products, machinery and services for the entire chain. The trade show is looking forward to welcoming 20,000 visitors from 50 countries around the world.
Our potato chain is strong, in good times and bad!
Never before has it been so obvious that climate conditions play a crucial role in the agricultural and horticultural sector in general and in potato growing in particular. The exceptional drought and – even more potently – the double heatwave that characterised the summer months of 2018 have had an enormous impact on potato yields in the principal European potato growing areas.
The problems already made themselves felt during the harvesting of the early potatoes and any hope that we would have a repeat of the situation we experienced in 2017 when a wet August and September brought some relief for the harvest of potatoes for storing quickly evaporated.
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Absolutely low yield
The consequences have made a very strong impact: many – non-irrigated – plots often had an absolutely low yield and the tubers were generally much smaller than normal this year. The media reported about ‘shorter fries’ and growers, the trade and the processing sector were pushed into a totally unexpected and unprecedented situation.
Solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow
At times like this, communication and dialogue are extremely important. INTERPOM PRIMEURS is a unique place for players that form the various links in the chain to exchange ideas and seek out solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. The changing conditions in the world of farming are also a catalyst for exhibitors to launch a wide range of (technological) innovations on the market with a view to spreading risk and finding solutions.
Walk in seminars: working together for an innovative and sustainable future
National and international speakers will share their knowledge, experience and vision about aspects of the potato chain during short 20-minute ‘walk-in’ presentations. The following themes will be discussed:
- Alternative sprout suppressors for CIPC
- Towards a reasoned and knowledge-driven approach to Alternaria Spp. in potato growing
- Quality of seed stocks
- Approach to drought
- The influence of the type of oil/fat on fatty acid composition of consumed fries
- Brexit and the impact on the potato trade
- WatchitGrow, digitalisation in favour of the whole potato sector
- Smart Farming in potato growing: hyperspectral image processing from a drone
- International import & export of Belgian potato products
- The CRIPR technique
- Launch of the Belgian Sector Organisation for Potatoes
- Kick-off international campaign ‘Can you imagine a world without potatoes’?
- From potato to chuño, a tasteful case history from the heights, together with Trias & Partners
Can you imagine a world without potatoes?
With future challenges such as climate change, food safety and development, there is one question we cannot ignore: ‘Can you imagine a world without potatoes’? This forms the central theme of this edition. This international campaign by the IPC (International Potato Center) in Lima Peru will be launched on 27 November at 10.30am at INTERPOM PRIMEURS. The aim of the campaign is to generate global awareness about the importance of the potato to mankind.
Looking ahead
Even though the talk in and around the stands will concentrate on the current market situation and how things have gone during the latest season, INTERPOM PRIMEURS is traditionally a special occasion that marks the start of the new season and where national and international colleagues and suppliers make contact. And that is certainly something to look forward to! Click here for more information & tickets.
Watch the INTERPOM | PRIMEURS 2016 after-movie below