Schaan - The food producer Hilcona is promoting the cultivation and processing of robust potato variants. These should be more climate-resistant and require the use of fewer plant protection agents. Moreover, there is a focus on avoiding food waste in connection with post-harvest sorting and processing.

Hilcona is launching a potato campaign. The international firm headquartered in Liechtenstein intends to promote the cultivation and processing of robust potato variants, according to a press release. In so doing, Hilcona is responding to challenges such as the impacts of climate change, new regulatory requirements in terms of the limited use of plant protection agents and continued pressure from pests and diseases.

“We are convinced that finding long-term solutions requires the buy-in of everyone involved along the value chain”, comments Andrea Gerber, Head of Sustainability at Hilcona, in the press release. As such, it is becoming “increasingly vital” for Hilcona to network and collaborate with other companies.

For example, Swisspatat, the organization representing the interests of the Swiss potato industry, has reached a target agreement with the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture to promote more robust potato variants. In addition, Hilcona Agrar is once again testing new variants in its fields this year, with the aim of “investigating their resistance properties against late blight and suitability for processing”, explains Andreas Messerli, who heads up the Hilcona division.

Last autumn, Swisspatat also announced that it would adjust the acceptance conditions for potatoes in order to reduce food losses. For example, the tolerance level for tuber sorting or for certain defects would be raised. When it comes to processing, Hilcona also tries to find the best possible solution for each batch, as the company explains in the press release.

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