The surprising 2012-2013 potato season that is characterised by a lower surface area of land, lower yields and difficult harvesting conditions in our country and in several neighbouring countries has meant the price of potatoes on the open market and the futures market is exceptionally high. This development should provide professionals in the sector with an even more important reason to visit INTERPOM PRIMEURS so that they can maintain their business contacts and to discover all the latest innovations.
Record number of 255 exhibitors on 31 000 sqm indoor exhibition area
The past editions of INTERPOM PRIMEURS showed strong growth figures and this year is no exception. The organizers expect 255 exhibitors (+13%) from 14 different countries on 31 000 sqm indoor area (+17%) or the complete exhibition complex at Kortrijk Xpo Belgium. The high quality and clear focus of the event means that INTERPOM PRIMEURS can count on a mass influx of 14 000 growers, contractors, processors, packers, buyers and traders of fresh and processed potatoes, fruit and vegetables visiting from all over Europe, plus a growing contingent from other continents as well (25 different countries).
A strong trade fair with an international reputation is essential for a growth sector
With its home base in Kortrijk Xpo, our trade fair is rooted in a dynamic, growing market. The Belgian potato processing industry is the world’s largest exporter of potato products and the dynamism of the Belgian potato sector (potatoes for consumption and seed potatoes) and the frozen vegetable business together represent a growth market of international format. INTERPOM PRIMEURS plays an important role here as a platform motivating businesses to present innovative technologies for the potato, fruit and vegetable chain, and exchange information. INTERPOM PRIMEURS is the ideal meeting place for this growth sector, and a forum where all the necessary information can be found to help you invest in the most efficient systems.
To stimulate the export of these products within Europe and beyond, Belgapom and Vegebe, in conjunction with the promotion services of the VLAM, APAQ-W, FIT and AWEX, are organizing an opportunity to meet with their export managers.
Winners of Inno Potato Award announced The 2nd edition of the Inno Potato Award rewards innovation in the farming industry. This encourages innovation in the potato sector and places it in the spotlight. Potato growers present a recently implemented innovation in their business: an innovation in growing procedures, storage or mechanisation. Given the higher number of registrations for both Dutch- and French-speaking applicants the professional jury opted to create two individual categories for this year: a category for Flemish potato growers and a category for Walloon potato growers.
And the names of the nominees are:
Category: Flemish Region - Bart Cocquyt from Zwewezele (potato planter with GPS and spray installation) - Geert Deconinck from Wortegem Petegem (GPS-steered furrow fertilisation when planting potatoes) - Guido Lammerant from Koksijde (furrow fertilisation with water from the organic cleaning of the ventilation fumes of pig farms)
Category: Walloon Region - Etienne Delbeke from Haulchin (storing seed potatoes and potatoes for consumption with ethylene gas) - Adrien Rasse from Attre (machine for uprighting dented objects in ventilation tunnels) - André De Vriesse from Pont à Celles (planting potatoes with an erosion-prevention system).
You can see a presentation of the nominated projects on the website www.innopotato.be. During NTERPOM PRIMEURS pre-selected projects will also be presented via interviews and reports on different companies. The winners of these awards will be chosen by a professional jury and by visitors to INTERPOM PRIMEURS during the first two days of the trade fair (all visitors will be given one (only one) voting form at the entrance to the trade fair). The Inno Potato Award will be handed over during the official presentation of the prizes on the afternoon of Tuesday 27 November 2012 in the presence of the Ministers of Agriculture, Kris Peeters and Carlo di Antonio. Another event that should not be missed and that will also take place on Tuesday 27 November, just before the presentation of the Inno Potato Award, will be the presentation of the reports about innovation in the potato growing sector in Flanders and Wallonia. These reports are the result of a Dialogue Day in Flanders and a Round Table meeting in Wallonia on the theme of innovation in the potato growing sector.
Seminar ‘Using techniques in precision agriculture for greater performance in arable farming’ on Monday 26 November At INTERPOM PRIMEURS you can also attend a particularly interesting seminar about a very topical theme in your sector. This year, the focus is on precision agriculture. PCA, CARAH and exhibitors who are active in precision farming will provide information about applying techniques used in precision farming to improve performance in arable farming. Access to this seminar is free of charge for visitors to the trade fair and will take place in the Kortrijk Xpo Meeting Centre adjacent to Hall 6. Each speaker will present their vision in their native language. There will be a double presentation in Dutch and French (no simultaneous translation).
Information, inspiration and contacts
INTERPOM PRIMEURS is where the dynamism of the potato, fruit and vegetable sector can really be felt. INTERPOM PRIMEURS is a must-do event for everyone who aims to keep up with the latest developments in the sector and discover the hottest innovations. But that’s not all: our trade fair is also a fantastic opportunity to make new contacts and link up again with your colleagues and suppliers in Belgium and abroad, exchange ideas and share information in a sector with a rosy future!
INTERPOM PRIMEURS is an initiative of Belgapom, the official trade association of the Belgian potato trade, growers and processors. The practical organization is in the capable hands of Kortrijk Xpo.
www.interpom-primeurs.be
