A historically important staple food, potatoes are gaining traction as a crop that also offers income opportunities for food processers and agribusinesses. The demand for potato food products in the developing world is increasing, and with that the number of people consuming potatoes worldwide. Potatoes have the potential to feed even more people in the future. In this course, we explore this potential, by covering the complete (seed) potato chain. We give insight in the latest developments in the potato sector and address the role of various stakeholders.
What will you learn?
Key course learnings include:
- In-depth knowledge on seed potato production systems and their application in different agro ecological conditions in the world;
- Broad expertise on potato varieties, breeding and variety testing (DUS and VCU). Quality aspects of seed potatoes;
- Insights on main diseases and pests (and their management) in potato, with a focus on seed and soil borne diseases;
- A look into the main agronomic practices( planting, fertilizer use, irrigation);
- Understanding the importance of crop rotation in emerging economies;
- Attention to the legal aspects of seed potatoes (PBR, phytosanitary regulations);
- The importance of harvest, storage and grading methods and pre-planting tuber treatment;
- An introduction to potato value chains & the business of potatoes along the value chain;
- The role of public and private sector in the sector development;
- Various practical demonstrations;
- Various visits to Dutch service providers along the value chain.
Course programme in more detail
The potato crop is a major part of world’s food supply. Currently the world’s fourth most important food crop, potatoes still have the potential to feed more people. However, apart from being a key staple, potatoes are also gaining traction as a crop that offers opportunities for food processers and agribusinesses. A prominent example of this multifaceted character is the Netherlands. Over the years, the country has become a world’s top producer and internationally renowned for its practical approaches and applications in the (seed) potato industry. Cooperation between public and private sectors has resulted in innovative developments in breeding and variety development, seed production, storage, seed certification and marketing. The insights gained, coupled with worldwide partnerships, provide new opportunities for the sustainable development of (seed) potato value chains in developing countries or countries with an economy in transition. Furthermore, thanks to its strong market position, the seed potato sector in Netherlands contributes importantly to the Dutch economy.
How to register:
For who is this course?
We invite practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and programme/ project managers who want to develop the potato industry in their home countries to join the course. Participants should be proficient in English, and have at least a BSc degree or an equivalent academic qualification and three years of work experience in potatoes or a related field.
To register, please visit the following link.
The Application Procedure
- Register for the course of your interest by clicking the ‘apply’ button on the webpage of this course. A registration form will open;
- Fill in the required fields of the registration form. Please note to write your date of birth without a zero (e.g. 1-5-1980 instead of 01-05-1980);
- Before you submit, check your details on the final page of the registration form;
- After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email. Make sure to directly click on the link in the email to confirm your registration. Without your confirmation, your registration cannot be processed;
- If you apply as an OKP or MSP-scholarship candidate, you will receive a registration letter for the scholarship at the beginning of the scholarship cycle.
- If you apply as a self-funded participant: we will forward your request for acceptance to the course leader. This can take some time as it depends on the coordinators' schedule (1-3 weeks);
- If you’re accepted into the course programme, we’ll send you an admission letter by e-mail;
- You receive all required travel documents from us after you are selected for the scholarship (OKP/MSP-scholarship candidates) or when we’ve received your payment (self-funded participant).
Technology Requirements Online Learning
Minimum technical and software requirements for online learning courses are:
- Stable internet connection: required to access the online learning platform and assignments (at least 3G mobile network).
- Hardware requirement: acces to a laptop, smartphone, tablet or a personal computer with webcam and microphone.