b'WORLDREVIEWAFRICADuring his presentation at the official opening of the 11th African Potato Association (APA) Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, World Potato Congress (WPC) presi-dent, Romain Cools, announced the continuous effort of his organization to be a partner of the African potato sector. Cools illustrated this by referring to the active role of African potato specialists in WPCs global organizationPotatoes South Africa CEO An-dre Jooste and Berga Lemaga of CIP, Ugandawho are both members of the WPC International Advisory Committee, as well as WPC director Peter Vander-Zaag, a long-term friend of the African potato sector.Cools pointed to the new WPC strategic plan, which no longer differentiates between the developed and emerging economies, that aims to become a premier networking organization for all potato professionals active in the potato sector all over the world. He expressed his hope the step toward moreBritain and the public/private partnerships could also lead to moreNetherlands. This is successful potato projects in Sub Saharan Africa. Hethree per cent more called upon the global potato sector for support tothan the five-year develop potato value chains in this region, knowingaverage and 12 per financial investments are available. The linkcent more than last between these projects and possible investors is theyear. At this stage, the one we have to realize. estimations are mainly The next WPC will be held in Dublin, Ireland, frombased upon trial digs. May 31 to June 4, 2021. Cools stated that WPC andNevertheless, the NEPG the local Irish organizing committee have dedicatedstresses this is an estimation themselves to developing a program on public/final trial digs will take place private partnership in Africa and other emergingat the beginning of Octoberand regions during the next year. almost the entire crop is still in the fields.This roadmap has been launched during aThis year, its not yield that is making a larger successful WPC workshop at the APA conference.harvest, but an increase of potato area comparedthe harvest is later and there the yields are based More than 70 participants from all segments of thewith last year. All NEPG countries, except Greatupon the five-year average. Also, the starch potato potato value chain have developed proposals, toolsBritain, planted more potatoes: in France, 14 per centharvest shows lower yields this year.to take away possible constraints and new ideasmore than the five-year average area. These estimations are not reflected in actual on the role of public authorities, farmers, researchOver the five countries, the average yield isprice levels, and the NEPG expects prices could institutes and the private sector to create successfulestimated at 44.7 tons/ha compared with 47.1 tons/ increase over the upcoming weeks on the Continent. potato value chains. These proposals will be workedha of the five-year average. Last year, with the lackThe factories were hungrier for raw material early in out into a roadmap led by the Irish non-governmentalof rain, the average was 40.9 tons/ha. the summer when compared with last year, and the organization Vita, in close collaboration with all in- Due to the small percentage of irrigation (andseason started nearly empty and a bit sooner than terested stakeholders. During a workshop at the WPCsomewhat less rainfall) the lowest yield estimationsusual. And processing capacities are still increas-in Ireland, this document will be finalized into thewere given for Belgium. In France, Belgium, anding. At one point, the processing season was a bit Declaration of Dublin, to be presented at the plenarylarger parts of Germany, the crop on the field hasdisrupted with earlies from Bordeaux, Rhineland and closing ceremony of the 2021 Congress.SOURCE: WORLDalmost died off with hardly the growth power for theBelgium arriving at the same time, which didnt help POTATO CONGRESS remaining days or weeks. The latest digs showed aprices firming.levelling of the yields. In the Netherlands, Great Brit- Competitiveness of final products from the EU NORTHWESTERN EUROPE ain and in some areas of Germany, green crops canwill be better this year on the global market, with The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG)still be found in some locations. Also, within the fivepotato prices not as high as last year.SOURCE: NEPG estimates the 2019 forecasted potato harvestcountries, enormous yield differences are reported by between 27 and 27.3 million tons for the five leadingvariety and location. Those areas with low irrigation potato countries: France, Belgium, Germany, Greatopportunities show the lowest yields. In Great Britain, FALL 2019 SPUDSMART.COM 67'