On Sunday I caught up on some note taking then ventured out into the historic area of Gent. It was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures above 15C. It is truly a beautiful city with incredible meidevel history. I posted a few pictures in the photo gallery.
On Monday it was back to work. A huge thank you to Romain Cools Secretary General of Belgapom (the Belgium processors association) for lining up a full agenda for the week that included researchers, processors, equipment manufacturers, equipment association, industry organizations, producers, etc, involved in the Belgium processing sector. My goal for the week was to understand the current state of Belgium's processing sector and get an indication of what their leaders believe are the key success factors for the future of their industry.
Monday March 9th
I visited ILVO, Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research ( www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be ). I was given an excellent tour by Bart Eloot. We first had a visit at the Food technology Institute. It was explained that ILVO has approximately 650 employees and most of itis funding is from the regional (Flemmish) government.
Dr. Katleen Coudijzer reviewed the Food Pilot (part of ILVO). It is a pilot food-processing plant open to all companies and research institutes. New concepts or products can be tested there. Test samples can be produced for consumer evaluation. In addition, a team of competant scientists, processing engineers and technicians can provide support. It can also be used for training of employees. Obviously product development is a key success factor for the industry.
We had a good discussion about cisgenics and the opportunity to reduce pestiticides, improve food safety and reduce environmental impact. They are looking at such an opportunity for late blight resistance for the Bintje variety which the the most common variety in Belgium. This is a collaborative effort with a number of the industry's stakeholders. This is seen as a future success factor.
Bary Eloot showed me some of the evaluations and bruise testing service he has been providing to the potato industry using the electronic potato. Nice to see one of the models he is using is PEI's smart spud!
Before leaving ILVO I was given an excellent tour of another section of the research facility that included some plant health services. I was hosted by Johan Van Vaerenbergh who has visited PEI in the past. I was very impressed with the researchers and the work they are doing. There are opportunities to link some of these folks with our researchers on topics such as disease and insect control. On-going research and managing plant health issues is important to the Belgium potato industry.
Late afternoon I travelled to Agristo's ( www.agristo.be ) processing plant in Harelbeke and met with their raw procumerment manager and one of the family members that own the company. I was really impresssed with their approach to the business and their operation. They have 2 processing plants in Belgium and 1 in the Netherlands. They are very optimistic about the future of the business in particular to meet the expanding export opportunities.
Tuesday, March 10th
I spent the day with Romain Cools and Nele Cattoor learning about the Belgium processing industry and the role of Belgapom. You can visit there website at: www.Belgapom.ba Belgopom is an active organization that include initaitives regarding the environment, training, innovation, agricultural advice, quality & food safety, plant health, market information, contracts, promotion, social items and sustainanility. I was very impressed with the accomplishments of this organization and the value they provide to the potato trade and processing industry. The folks at Belgapom were extremely helpful and provided me with many facts and figures about the processing industry past and present as well as insight into the key factors for their future success.
Wednesday, March 11th
I spent the day touring with Michel Christiaens, the Secretary General of Fedagrim ( www.fedagrim.be ). Fedagrim is the organization for the agricultural equipment companies and also organizer of Potato Europe ( www.potatoeurope.be )in Belgium September 2nd & 3rd 2015. This is a huge potato only open-air farm show that is held every 4 years. Michel provided excellent insight on the current state and future of the Belgium processing industry.
Michel took me to Dewolf ( www.dewulf.be ) . They are potato and carrot harvester manufacturing specialists. Dewolf is another family owned business. I met with one of the family members. I was extremely impressed with his knowledge of potato production. No doubt, that knowledge enables their company to build a harvester that best meets the needs of the producers. They make a real nice 4 row self propelled harvester (they also make a 2 row) that is very versatile and suited to the smaller field sizes here. There are also 1000's of small producers. Becasue of small field sizes and small acreage of producers, most of the potato crop is harvested by contractors (custom harvest services). These harvesters are equipmed with a 11 MT holding tank. They turn on a dime (I know as I was given a demo). Very impressive machine. Perhaps these machines could give PEI's windrower / harvester approach (they do not use windrowers) a run for the money?
Michel and I then travelled to Brussels so I could visit with EUPPA ( www.euppo.eu ) . I met with Secretary General, Andrea Nosewicz. She provided an excellent overview of the organization and their role in the industry. The organization plays a proactive role on a number of issues such as food safety, EU trade policy and sustainability. It's membership represents 5 national organizations and 11 processing companies, accounting for more than 90% of the market. Favorable policies that pertain to the processing industry by the EU government is critical to the future success of the industry.
On Monday it was back to work. A huge thank you to Romain Cools Secretary General of Belgapom (the Belgium processors association) for lining up a full agenda for the week that included researchers, processors, equipment manufacturers, equipment association, industry organizations, producers, etc, involved in the Belgium processing sector. My goal for the week was to understand the current state of Belgium's processing sector and get an indication of what their leaders believe are the key success factors for the future of their industry.
Monday March 9th
I visited ILVO, Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research ( www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be ). I was given an excellent tour by Bart Eloot. We first had a visit at the Food technology Institute. It was explained that ILVO has approximately 650 employees and most of itis funding is from the regional (Flemmish) government.
Dr. Katleen Coudijzer reviewed the Food Pilot (part of ILVO). It is a pilot food-processing plant open to all companies and research institutes. New concepts or products can be tested there. Test samples can be produced for consumer evaluation. In addition, a team of competant scientists, processing engineers and technicians can provide support. It can also be used for training of employees. Obviously product development is a key success factor for the industry.
We had a good discussion about cisgenics and the opportunity to reduce pestiticides, improve food safety and reduce environmental impact. They are looking at such an opportunity for late blight resistance for the Bintje variety which the the most common variety in Belgium. This is a collaborative effort with a number of the industry's stakeholders. This is seen as a future success factor.
Bary Eloot showed me some of the evaluations and bruise testing service he has been providing to the potato industry using the electronic potato. Nice to see one of the models he is using is PEI's smart spud!
Before leaving ILVO I was given an excellent tour of another section of the research facility that included some plant health services. I was hosted by Johan Van Vaerenbergh who has visited PEI in the past. I was very impressed with the researchers and the work they are doing. There are opportunities to link some of these folks with our researchers on topics such as disease and insect control. On-going research and managing plant health issues is important to the Belgium potato industry.
Late afternoon I travelled to Agristo's ( www.agristo.be ) processing plant in Harelbeke and met with their raw procumerment manager and one of the family members that own the company. I was really impresssed with their approach to the business and their operation. They have 2 processing plants in Belgium and 1 in the Netherlands. They are very optimistic about the future of the business in particular to meet the expanding export opportunities.
Tuesday, March 10th
I spent the day with Romain Cools and Nele Cattoor learning about the Belgium processing industry and the role of Belgapom. You can visit there website at: www.Belgapom.ba Belgopom is an active organization that include initaitives regarding the environment, training, innovation, agricultural advice, quality & food safety, plant health, market information, contracts, promotion, social items and sustainanility. I was very impressed with the accomplishments of this organization and the value they provide to the potato trade and processing industry. The folks at Belgapom were extremely helpful and provided me with many facts and figures about the processing industry past and present as well as insight into the key factors for their future success.
Wednesday, March 11th
I spent the day touring with Michel Christiaens, the Secretary General of Fedagrim ( www.fedagrim.be ). Fedagrim is the organization for the agricultural equipment companies and also organizer of Potato Europe ( www.potatoeurope.be )in Belgium September 2nd & 3rd 2015. This is a huge potato only open-air farm show that is held every 4 years. Michel provided excellent insight on the current state and future of the Belgium processing industry.
Michel took me to Dewolf ( www.dewulf.be ) . They are potato and carrot harvester manufacturing specialists. Dewolf is another family owned business. I met with one of the family members. I was extremely impressed with his knowledge of potato production. No doubt, that knowledge enables their company to build a harvester that best meets the needs of the producers. They make a real nice 4 row self propelled harvester (they also make a 2 row) that is very versatile and suited to the smaller field sizes here. There are also 1000's of small producers. Becasue of small field sizes and small acreage of producers, most of the potato crop is harvested by contractors (custom harvest services). These harvesters are equipmed with a 11 MT holding tank. They turn on a dime (I know as I was given a demo). Very impressive machine. Perhaps these machines could give PEI's windrower / harvester approach (they do not use windrowers) a run for the money?
Michel and I then travelled to Brussels so I could visit with EUPPA ( www.euppo.eu ) . I met with Secretary General, Andrea Nosewicz. She provided an excellent overview of the organization and their role in the industry. The organization plays a proactive role on a number of issues such as food safety, EU trade policy and sustainability. It's membership represents 5 national organizations and 11 processing companies, accounting for more than 90% of the market. Favorable policies that pertain to the processing industry by the EU government is critical to the future success of the industry.