Belgapom blog

To be the biggest ...

The Dutch media pay a lot of attention to the fact that the Belgian potato processing industry has passed our neighbours concerning the exports of potato products. The newspaper 'De Volkskrant' even compares the situation with the famous 'orange legion' in football and ice speed skating !

The reality is that the young Belgian potato processing industry, which is majorly composed out of family run companies, has really boomed during the last decades. The growth from 500.000 tonnes potatoes processed in 1990 to 3,2 million tonnes in 2010 has been realised by the total potato chain. The importance of the export in this success story is obvious.

The high yields (Belgian has one of the highest potato yields in the world, even without relying on expensive irrigation of the crop), a super efficient chain (with a significant role of the trade), and important investments in production, but also environmental techniques, have got our country on the world top of exports of frozen potato products.

The fast economical growth in South-America and Asia has also contributed to the boost of our exports on the world markets.

However the industry cannot rest on its laurels : this production and exports have to be made sustainable.

Belgapom makes an appeal to our Belgian MEP's in the European Parliament to take this development into account during the upcoming debates on the new European agricultural policy.

Belgapom blog ... new interactive information from Belgapom

Belgapom, the Belgian potato trade and processing industry plans to inform its members and the potato professionals on a permanent way on the sector's doings.

With this blog the Belgapom secretariat will provide short messages and information concerning events or experiences out of the potato sector. Like a true blog reactions or  supplementary information can be posted when appropriate. 

Looking forward to the first publication we all wish you a merry christmas & happy new year !

The Belgapom-secretariat