Mr. Colpaert, chairman of Fedagrim, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome in Tournai, in this splendid Town Hall. For the third consecutive time in Belgium, our city has the honor of hosting the event "Potato Europe". During three days, Tournai somehow becomes the world capital of the potato as visitors, eager to discover new techniques of cultivation and extraction of potato, gather from all over the world.
This is undoubtedly an honor to welcome you today on the occasion of this conference gathering potato industry professionals.
And somehow, because of the specificity of our area, I would say that we deserve this recognition. Indeed, Tournai is a city nestling in the countryside. With its 29 surrounding villages, our entity, which is the largest in Belgium, has always been turned to agriculture. Currently, approximately 300 farms are listed on Tournai territory, and I would like to remind you that Hainaut is the first agricultural province of Wallonia. I would also like to highlight the work done by CARAH, the Centre for agronomy and agribusiness, located in Ath, and active partner in the organization of this event.
Located 20 km from Lille, 80 km from the Belgian capital city, but also not far from Flanders, Tournai is in a way the central place to accommodate a marquee event as Potato Europe. The city of Tournai has made every effort to ensure the complete success of this event organized by Fedagrim. And I also want to highlight the owners of the Witdouck farm in Kain who welcomes the event again on their land. Thank you also to Mr. Jose' Decock and to Mr. Andre" Lepouttre, two neighboring farmers, for lending their lands.
Our farmers have a real expertise in various fields of agriculture and livestock. Markets where their products are sold prove it.
Yet recent events have highlighted the difficulties that Walloon producers are facing concerning milk and pork. An extraordinary Council of European Ministers of Agriculture that will be taking place on 7th September. A firm and ambitious Belgian position is necessary. At the Walloon level, the Government has determined a strong position to meet this exceptional crisis. Wallonia seeks a new volume control mechanism following the disappearance of quotas. It also requires at very short term an upwards revision of the intervention price for the public storage of milk powder and butter. Other requests for dairy and pork accompany this list of demands.
More than ever our farmers need support. Therefore the Walloon Government approved on 23rd July an action plan aiming at using all the wiggle room available in the sphere of regional powers to help Walloon farmers.
Belgium remains a major agricultural producer in the European Union, particularly in the potato industry. It exports more than 1.5 million tons of finished products to over 100 different countries around the world. Belgium is thus the world's largest exporter by volume of potato products and frozen fries.
The processing industry is represented by twenty very dynamic Belgian companies which currently process almost four million tons of potato a year, including more than half of it on Walloon soil, to produce more than two million tons of finished products. This production has been continuously growing for twenty years. As nine hundred thousand tons of potatoes were used in 1995, it is, in other words, a 4.5-fold production increase in twenty years, and continued investment of fifty to one hundred million euros per year.
Tournai is delighted to bring together potato industry professionals during these three days. A total of one hundred ninety-four exhibitors will be installed on more than twenty-two hectares, and eight thousand visitors are expected.
I wish you a very successful participation in this international event, and especially a nice weather. Congratulations again for the quality of this event. You are welcome to come back in four years from now.
Thank you for your attention
Rudy Demotte
