Belgians will grow significantly more of their own seed potatoes

The expansion of the seed potato area in Wallonia, at 58.8 percent, is even greater than in Flanders, where this is 28.9 percent. The expected area of certified seed potatoes for the whole of Belgium in 2024 will be 2,344 hectares. The area of farm seed potatoes, or starting material from our own propagation, has increased by no less than 90 percent to 848 hectares. The provisional area figures also show that the area of consumption potatoes is increasing by 5.8 percent. Here too, the authorities report the largest expansion in Wallonia, with 11.1 percent. The expected area for Belgium totals 101,805 hectares, with 56,549 hectares in Flanders and 45,256 hectares in Wallonia. Late storage varieties The expansion of the consumption area is entirely attributable to the late storage varieties intended for the processing industry. The area of early varieties decreased by 9.4 percent to 5,809 hectares. As far as the division of the varieties is concerned, it is striking that slightly ...