Variety Presentation Days 2019: main objectives in breeding vary widely
To the question ‘what is the most important focus in your breeding work at the moment’, we received a wide range of answers from the participating breeding and trading companies present at the annual variety presentation days in Emmeloord and its immediate surroundings.
To the question ‘what is the most important focus in your breeding work at the moment’, we received a wide range of answers from the participating breeding and trading companies present at the annual variety presentation days in Emmeloord and its immediate surroundings. Frequently heard responses were, we are looking for resistances, and for some people the focus is mainly on viruses because of the high percentage of virus reduction in recent years.
Leo Hanse en Jaap Delleman
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 | Erika den Daas, Meijer Potato, Rilland ‘We’ve been focusing very strongly on yield combined with resistances over the past few years.’ Read more |
| Jan-Paul Bandsma, De Nijs, Warmenhuizen: ‘We think that the rapid availability of varieties that are strong against viruses is very important.’ Read more |  |
 | Hans Geling, Seed and Ware Potatoes at Schaap-Holland, Biddinghuizen: ‘What we’ve been urgently looking for is a replacement for the Agria.’ Read more |
| Henk Holtslag, Stet Holland, Emmeloord: ‘Even more than before, we’re going to focus on developing and offering robust varieties.’ Read more |  |
 | Jos Bus, TPC, Emmeloord: ‘We put all our energy into crossing resistances.’ Read more |
| Henk Offereins, Danespo Holland, Berltsum: ‘As Danespo Holland, we’re now fully engaged in the breeding and selection of French-fry varieties.’ Read more |  |
 | Remco Koeman and Matthijs Kloek, Den Hartigh, Emmeloord: ‘We have a broad perspective that allows us to serve the entire playing field in the potato sector.’ Read more |
| Jörg Renatus, Europlant, Lüneburg (D): ‘Our main objective is to develop varieties that contribute to sustainable potato cultivation.’ Read more |  |
 | Henk Feddes, Interseed, Dronten: ‘How are the French-fry varieties doing in the factory? They are our number 1 priority.’ Read more |
| Jan-Erik Geersing, Geersing Potato Specialist/Caithness Potatoes, Emmeloord: ‘All our attention is focused on Phytophthora, which won’t surprise anyone in the industry.’ Read more |  |
 | Jeroen van Soesbergen, Plantera, Marknesse: ‘I think that, at the moment, we’re focusing most on climate change in our breeding work. Read more |
| Tigran Richter, Norika, Sanitz (D): ‘We’ve embedded the key concepts of sustainability and yield security in all our breeding programmes.’ Read more |  |
 | Rindert Dankert, Selection Company Kooi, Leeuwarden: ‘Our focus for many years has been on breeding early varieties.’ Read more |
| Gerard Schenk, Agroplant, Medemblik: ‘In the past few years, we’ve also invested a lot of time and energy in the development and marketing of French-fry and crisps. Read more |  |
 | Harry van de Vijver, Germicopa, Quimper (F): ‘The ban on CIPC has been a focal point for us in breeding for quite some time.’ Read more |
| Dirk van Dijken, Royal ZAP/Semagri, Wieringerwerf: ‘Customers are looking for varieties that they can sell exclusively in their market.’ Read more |  |
 | Colm McDonnel, IPM, Dublin (Ireland): ‘If you want to be successful in breeding, it’s especially important to have a vision of the future. Read more |
| Sjefke Allefs, Agrico Research, Bant: ‘It’s imperative that we get decent virus resistance in our varieties.’ Read more |  |
 | Robert Graveland, HZPC, Joure: ‘We want to increase the return and lower the risk.’ Read more |
