The January/February issue of CHIPS highlights innovation and growth in the South African potato sector, featuring Potatoes SA’s Transformation Symposium, research on nematode management, the ongoing role of glyphosate in weed control, and the 2024/25 potato cultivar trials.
Transforming with vitality
Stories of determination and growth were central to Potatoes SA’s eighth Transformation Symposium, aptly themed ‘Old Roots, New Shoots: Revitalising and fostering new partnerships’. The symposium consisted of farm visits to potato producers aiming to inspire others, a meeting where various stakeholders made their voices heard, and concluded with Vumile Mzinzi being named Potatoes SA’s Enterprise Development producer of the year. Read more in CHIPS.
Understanding Prokon’s role in South Africa’s potato value chain
The South African fresh produce sector relies on well-defined regulatory systems to ensure fair trade, accurate quality claims, and consumer protection. Two organisations often mentioned in the same breath – Prokon and Potatoes SA – play crucial yet very different roles in this framework. Whereas Prokon focusses on quality compliance, Potatoes SA is dedicated to industry growth. Read the latest issue of CHIPS for more insight into Prokon’s activities.
Nematode control: Can we do without fumigation?
Potatoes are mainly produced on intensively farmed land, which contributes to nematode-induced problems specific to the crop. An article in the January/February issue of CHIPS examines a study aimed at determining whether fumigation can be excluded from the nematode control programme without affecting the producer’s profit returns.
Glyphosate hormesis: Benefits and risks
Despite being lambasted by increasing cases of glyphosate-resistant weeds and negative press regarding human health concerns, glyphosate retains the titles it has earned over the past quarter of a century or so, namely ‘a once-in-a-100-year herbicide’ and ‘the world’s top-selling herbicide’. Although glyphosate’s extraordinary weed-control capabilities have been somewhat tempered over the past 20 years by the scourge of glyphosate-resistant weeds, it remains a mainstay tool in most weed management strategies.
Kultivarproewe onder besproeiing
Die 2024/25-aartappelproewe op onderskeidelik Davel/Bethal en Petrusburg, is twee van talle ander kultivarproewe wat uitgevoer word om die opbrengs en bemarkbaarheid van algemene, bekende kultivars te evalueer. Met uitdagende klimaatstoestande en wisselende reënval het sommige kultivars uitgeblink, terwyl ander weens mot, rhizoctonia of vergroening afgegradeer is. Lees oor die uitslae van hierdie proewe in dié uitgawe van CHIPS.
To read more, get your online copy of CHIPS January/February, available as a PDF at https://bit.ly/CHIPS0126 or as an interactive flipbook at https://digimags.agriorbit.com/books/CHIPS-Jan_Feb-2026_digimag/, as well as on Potatoes SA’s website at www.potatoes.co.za/chips. To subscribe, phone Beauty Mthombeni on 064 890 6941 or SMS ‘Subscribe’ and your phone number to 064 890 6941.
