Potato farming is important for both culture and the economy in Belgium and northern France. The negative environmental and societal impacts of this crop are a common concern in this cross-border region. In order to remedy this, the varietal lever is seen as a central asset, with the characterisation and identification of robust varieties.
Since 2018, members of both the Walloon and Flemish populations have been working together as part of the "Robust organic potatoes" agreement, with annual trials set up to assess the potential of these varieties. Since 2023, French partners have also joined the initiative with trials in Northern France. The PROROB's relevance lies in the desire to provide the various links in the chain operating in the cross-border region with reliable and comparable characteristics of the potato varieties that are best suited to their needs and local conditions.
The overall aim of this 18-month project is to develop harmonised protocols for assessing potato variety robustness criteria, including resistance to late blight, nitrogen efficiency, tolerance to water/thermal stress and harvest quality. The entire industry will benefit from these protocols, with a view to promoting the integration of these varieties into sustainable, environmentally friendly agricultural practices and transformation processes. By promoting the adoption of best practices and facilitating access to objective, transparent information, the project is helping to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector and preserve the environment for farmers on both sides of the border.
Funding: Interreg FWVl
