b'WORLDREVIEWTHE NETHERLANDS has greater influence on the characteristics thatrelease from the organization says. In January 2021 Dutch potato breeder HZPC has been working forare present in the hybrid, Ad Vrolijk, project leaderhe will take over from Romain Cools.years on hybrid potato breeding where plants arefor hybrid potatoes at HZPC, explains in the release. Vandenkendelaere will also act as the director grown from seeds and not from tubers, a newsPotato breeders can also make hybrid potatoof FVPhouse, the service umbrella organisation of release from the company says. varieties resistant to diseases faster, whereas withthe potato, fruit and vegetable trade and process-Seed potatoes from hybrid potatoes growtraditional breeding it could take 10 years or longer,ing associations.successfully on the well-known ridges and nowthe release notes. Romain Cools will remain active in an advisory also in so-called beds. Flower bulbs are grown inHowever, HZPC does not expect hybrid potatoesrole for his successor until July 1, 2021, the release this type of bed too, the release says. to replace the traditional potato growing processnotes. Over the past three decades Cools was not HZPC is now shifting to growing hybrid potatoesin the short termit will take until at least 2030only active as the secretary general of Belgapom in beds instead of ridges. By doing this more potatobefore they can deliver a tailor-made potato. and the director of FVPhouse, he was also the plants can be can cultivated per square metre inGrowing potatoes from seed should be seensecretary general of Vegebe for 17 years, secretary beds, the release notes. There is also more controlas a niche because traditional potato growinggeneral of Europatat for 15 years, and secretary over the size of the harvested tuber and when thefrom a tuber has specific advantages over growinggeneral for the European federation for the potato seeds are strong enough, they will be sown straightfrom seeds. However, for countries that struggle toprocessing industry for 8 years. He is currently into the beds making hybrid potato breeding evenaccess seed potatoes, a hybrid potato variety canchairman/CEO of the Canadian NGO World Potato more efficient. offer huge positives for food security in terms ofCongress Inc.A hybrid potato is a combination of two inbredhealthy food. And that is a fantastic development,Vandenkendelaere has a PhD in international strains that create a uniform product. The ultimateAd Vrolijk says. relations, was chairman of JONGCD&V and was tuber looks exactly the same as a traditionalactive in the European Parliament in the commit-potato, but there are a few big differences in termsBELGIUM tees on Agriculture, Economic and Monetary Affairs of characteristics. The biggest difference is thatTom Vandenkendelaere has been named the newand Employment and Social Affairs.we can grow hybrid potatoes from a tuber and alsosecretary general of Belgapom, the Belgian potato from a seed. Another difference is that the breedertrade and processing industry association, a newsCHINAThe Chinese city of Zhatong has been recognized as the Potato Plateau Seed Potato Capital of the World, a news release from the World Potato Congress says.In Zhatong, potatoes have not only helped bring millions of people out of poverty but are also accelerating development. In order for this to happen Zhaotong must make full use of new ideas, new technologies, innovation mechanism, integrate factor resources, standardization and brand devel-opment, the release notes.The potato has become important for poverty alleviation in the Chinese city, given the unique ad-vantages of geographical and climatic conditions, the release says. Therefore, there is a need for large-scale development of high-quality seed pota-to base to meet both local and broader demand.The hope is Zhaotongs potato industry will pay attention to scientific and technological research and development and increase the added value of the potato industry; strengthen industrialization construction and promote farmers to enter the mar-ket; promote the sharing of industrial development and poverty alleviation experience at home and abroad; and speed up the promotion of the potato industry.62 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2020'