Jun 20, 2017Europatat Congress 2017 focuses on plant health, trade
The Europatat Congress 2017 took place June 15-16, organized in coordination by Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, and Belgapom, the Belgian Potato Trade and Processing Industry Association. The Congress focused on two of the major topics that are on the table of European policy this year, namely plant health and international trade.
The keynote speaker in the morning session, Harry Arijs, DG SANTE, European Commission, gave participants an insight about the impact that the new European Plant Health Regulation will have in the potato sector when it goes into effect at the end of 2019. Other notable speakers in the morning included Lieven van Herzele, food chain safety and environment, Belgian Federal Public Service Health, and professor René Custers, VIB, who spoke about the role of innovation in plant breeding to reduce the dependency on plant protection products.
The afternoon session highlighted the role of Europe in the potato trade. Véronique Willems Secretary General of the European Association representing SMEs, stressed the challenges but also the many benefits that the Europe Union has brought over the last 60 years. Lene Naesager,DG Agriculture, European Commission, highlighted the opportunities that the European Promotion Policy for agricultural products brings (with a budget of € 200 million by 2020), and was complementary of the potato sector as an example for other agricultural sectors. Lastly, Cedric Porter, World Potato Markets Magazine, spoke about the consequences of Brexit for the European potato industry, and the possibility for a “Breturn.”
Participants also had the opportunity to attended meetings of the various Europatat Commissions (early, ware potatoes & packers; RUCIP, seed potatoes & technical, and regulatory issues). On Thursday, June 15, the annual activity report was introduced and the accounts were approved by the members. The social events, which included a typical evening at the famous old brewery De Koninck at the old town of Antwerp, a dinner at the Zoo of Antwerp and an visit to the Antwerp Harbor Building, including a boat trip on the Scheldt.
Europatat is the European Potato Trade Association, representing the interests of the seed and ware potato traders in Europe. Europatat currently has more than 45 members, including both companies and associations. For more information, contact the association at [email protected] or visit the association website www.europatat.eu.
