04 Cultivation

2020 was a dry year with a reduced harvest of seed potatoes as a result. As a rule, we would tend to focus on expansion, with our growers, but this year we have had to tread water as a result of the Coronavirus. HZPC, however, has made huge strides with respect to growing under licence. There are plenty of opportunities and new areas. Together with our growers we focus on the growth opportunities of the future.

Emerging economies such as China, India, Egypt and Nigeria are witnessing huge population growth. For HZPC, this signifies enormous opportunities to introduce our genetics into these markets so that the people there can gain access to adequate supplies of good food. With respect to water shortages, the potato is a particularly good alternative to a crop such as rice.

Whereas we used to profile ourselves as a European company, we now position ourselves on the global market. But it takes time to get a good foothold and ensure that your intellectual property is assured. We are leading the field in terms of opening up the market but  introducing varieties into new countries is no easy task. In some countries, importing seed potatoes is not an option. Where that is impossible, we focus on growing under licence. Partners in these countries grow the varieties of HZPC and, in turn, pay a licence fee. Growing under licence means that varieties are taken to the countries as mother plants. Once there, they are grown and bred in laboratories. They can then be planted on to produce mini-tubers which are then planted once again to produce seed potatoes. 

The emerging economies are often drawn to the varieties’ as intellectual property. It is always important to keep a close eye on our intellectual property and intervene when our varieties are used unlawfully.

The high quality initial material for global potatoes originates in the rich delta of the Netherlands. HZPC believes that we have a social obligation to produce goods seed potatoes so that millions of people across the rest of the world can eat.

However, our most important motivation – feeding the world – is coming under greater pressure because other sustainability principles are taking precedence. It goes without saying that we should consider biodiversity and reduce the use of chemicals. But it takes time to adapt and develop improved varieties. The issue is whether our growers in the various countries will be given the time to do so.

We very much value the relationship and exceptional links we have with our active growers. That is why we are not a cooperative or listed company but are owned by the growers. Around half of the HZPC certificates are now held by former growers but we would like to actively involve the new generation in HZPC too. So we can remain ‘for and by’ the growers. With Connecting Growers, we enable former growers to sell their certificates back to us. We then give these to active growers on the basis of the number of hectares of seed potato acreage they have. We are spending €1.5 million per year on this. By 2021, we will have bought and donated 1.35 million certificates to our active growers who want to join us. 70% of our growers in the EU have indicated that they would like to be involved in the Connecting Growers programme. In 2021, we handed out certificates to growing companies for the first time.

When the Annabelle had just been released into the market, I was given this variety of potato to try out. That was my first introduction to HZPC. I have been working with HZPC since then. I used to grow potatoes for the fresh market but, over the past ten years, I have also grown varieties for the fries and crisps industry. As far as I’m concerned, HZPC is a leading light in the sector. This is reflected in HZPC’s business practices and its focus on the development of new varieties.

My dad and granddad started our company in 1942. At the time, we were leasing the land but, since 1994, the farm has been ours. We have been able to expand substantially by buying more land. I now run the company with two of my sons and we have around 200 hectares of potatoes.

The great thing about growing potatoes is that it can be really exciting because you have to cope with the weather and plants. For us, the season begins in January: I plant the Annabelle at the end of the month. We then cover everything with film to protect the tubers from the frost. My aim is to harvest potatoes by the end of April or beginning of May. Every year, it’s another race against time and the weather to see whether you ill be successful.

For me, it’s important that the quality and yield of the potatoes are good. To this end, you need robust varieties with a high yield. Many growers in Germany opt to specialise in one variety of potato. I deliberately choose to grow various potato varieties for the fresh market but also for the crisps and fries industries. This makes things a bit more complex.

An important theme for our company is sustainability. We must all be careful about how we use the available resources, including water, fertilisers and also pesticides. This impacts upon the development of new potato varieties too. It's not just about high yields any more, it’s also about the degree of resistance and the consequences of climate change. We need potato varieties that use less water and lower levels of pesticides. This must also be combined with great flavour and characteristics. It is great, as a grower, to take on the responsibility for making the right choices.