Virtual stakeholder meeting 29 April 2021

Stakeholder engagement and business plans for expanding potato farming northward.

The objective of this meeting is to identify What is the current baseline for potato acreage, yield and quality in the north and what are the prospects for potato cultivation in the light of climate change?

Secondly to identify what are the opportunities, challenges and barriers for the expansion of potato production up North – and who can do it?

Therefore we invited a wide range of stakeholders related to the potato value chain, - to discuss and exchange ideas how this could be possible - and how we could work together

MORNING THEME1: What is the current baseline for potato acreage, yield and quality in the north and what are the prospects for potato cultivation in the light of climate change?

Chair: Kristiina Mäkinen

Moderator:  Karen J. Kloth,

09.00-09.15 The N’TOP network initiative / Benedicte Albrectsen

09.15-09.30 Area use and potato growth in Northern Finland / Heikki Markus, CEO of Finpom Oy

09.30-09.45  Area use and potato growth in Northern Sweden. Opportunities with climatic- and environmental advantages / Elisabeth Öberg, Norrbotten Länsstyrelsen

09.45-10.00 Area use and potato growth in Northern Norway /  Kristin Sørensen, Norsk Landbruksrådgivning Nord Norge

10.00-10.15 Discussion

10.15-10.30 Coffee break

10.30-10.45 Area use and potato growth in Island / Helgi Jóhannesson, Horticulture Consultant, The Icelandic Agricultural Advisory Centre

10.45-11.00 Area use and potato growth in Greenland / Henrik Frederiksen, Greenland Agricultural Advisory Service

11.00-11.10 Discussion

11.10-11.15 Introduction to break out rooms discussions

11.15-11.35 Break out group discussion: What is the potential for expansion of Potato growth in Northern Europe

11.35-12.00 Report from five breakout groups in plenum

BREAK FOR LUNCH

AFTERNOON THEME 2: What are the opportunities, challenges and barriers for the expansion of potato production up North – and who can do it?

Chair:Jens G. Hansen

Moderator: Benedicte Albrectsen

13.00-13.10 Seed potato production in Northern Sweden /  Anders Nilsson  

13.10-13.20 Potatoes with new eyes /  Laila Matkikainen, Potato Cooperation Group, Finland

13.20-13.30 Seed potato production in Scandinavia - experience and opportunity for breeding and production management / Tom van der Kooij, HZPC, the Netherlands

13.30-13.45 Discussion

13.45-14.00 Break

10.00-14.10 Test of new cultivars in the North / Erik Andreasson, SLU

14.10–14.20 Potatoes adapted to Northern conditions - what are the opportunities /  Peter Geluk, Agrico, Research Department, the Netherlands

14.20-14.45 Break-out group discussions: Identification of the need for infrastructure and new knowledge?

14.45-15.15 Report from five breakout groups in plenum

15.15-15.30 Wrap up and what is next / Benedicte Albrectsen