Gand University, the Institute of Agricultural Research and the Flemish Biotechnology Institute have announced that the first field tests of mildew resistant Bintje potatoes will take place in 2017 or 2018. They say that this will come as a godsend to producers and processors. Annual damage is estimated at about €55 million in Belgium, which is the world’s biggest frozen potato exporter. According to the researchers, it will be possible to obtain a variety that is resistant to mildew, without losing the potato’s other characteristics.
Luc Rooryck, agricultural expert at Lutosa says mildew is the main problem that producers have. Fields need to be treated between 12 and 20 times a year. He estimates that treatment costs, including manual labour, reach about €50 per hectare. Mildew develops when there is heavy rainfall and high temperatures. Producers were more or less spared in 2015 thanks to a “very dry” year and continuous sun.
