Potatoes rarely win awards, let alone an Oscar. Yet Gerard Bovée and Joeren van Soesbergen of the Dutch potato trading company Plantera found their latest variety so impressive, they named it 'Oscar.' "It performs so well in so many areas, we thought it a fitting name," says Gerard, smiling. "Plus, it's a true grower's variety."
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According to this potato expert, Oscar scores high on various points: resistance to ABC potato fatigue, Phytophthora, and viruses, few internal defects, hardly any damage during mechanical harvesting, and, above all, an above-average yield. "Oscar is an all-rounder," Gerard explains proudly.
This robust potato has an important advantage. It grows easily. That makes Oscar attractive to both conventional and organic growers. But this variety is more than just practical for growers. It has deep yellow flesh, is an AB (slightly firm) cooking type, is easy to peel, even by machine, packs well, is round, and has a long shelf life. "It's, thus, suitable for packers and peelers. And it tastes good." Thanks to its versatility, you can even process the Oscar.
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Of course, no variety is perfect. "Oscar has a slightly darker skin, so it doesn't shine like a billiard ball," Gerard acknowledges. "And it's somewhat susceptible to scab. Considering all this variety offers, though, these are relatively acceptable drawbacks."
Quick start, quick success
Plantera, founded in 2014, specializes in breeding, producing, and marketing seed and ware potatoes, focusing on its own varieties. With Oscar, things moved quickly. "We usually expand our varieties gradually. But with Oscar, we got off to a flying start and immediately had sufficient commercial volumes of seed potatoes available. Interest is particularly high because it has few inspection setbacks and doesn't require precise planting," says Bovée.
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Plantera now has 50+ hectares of seed potato acreage under Oscar at contract growers, mainly in Germany and the Netherlands. "That's about 15 times the acreage of consumption potatoes. And we're working to increase that significantly in the coming years."
International potential
The variety has proven suitable for cultivation all over Europe, from north to south and east to west. It is also being tested in North Africa. "That says a lot about its adaptability. It withstands heat and drought stress well. Every country obviously has its own considerations," Gerard knows. "We're still testing those for the Oscar. But most of the results are promising."
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"More than anything, we want to market a variety that, besides packers, supermarkets, the sector, and consumers, also appeals to growers. In an era of risk minimization and regulatory pressure regarding crop protection, water consumption, and fertilization, the need for varieties that growers want, can, and are allowed to grow is greater than ever," Gerard concludes.
For more information:
Gerard Bovée
Plantera B.V.
Tel: +31 6 10735962
Tel: +31 527 264128
[email protected]
www.plantera.nl