SOME INTERESTING ASPECTS OF RECENT AND EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS IN POTATO PRODUCTION (INCLUDING SEED POTATO PRODUCTION) IN EUROPE

In spite of a considerable reduction in area grown since 1970, potatoes are still the fourth arable crop in Europe.
The decline in area was due to a decrease in both human consumption and the use as stockfeed and to increased yields.

In Western Europe an increasing quantity of consumption potatoes is used as processed products.
Other developments in potato production in Europe since 1970 are an increased area per farm, increased mechanization and a greater demand for quality potatoes.
Rapid multiplication methods are increasingly used for the production of pre-basic seed.
Some expected developments are, stabilization of the quantity of potatoes produced, more emphasis on the quality of consumption potatoes, a further increase in the use of rapid multiplication techniques for seed production.
Finally it is expected that integrated production systems gradually will become more important.

Recent and Future Developments of the Potato in the World

C.D. van LOON

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1987.213.12