Belpotato.be is surprised to learn of the proposals from some potato buyers, whereby they unilaterally reduce the contracted quantities from the buyer without any form of consultation in already signed contracts. This is unacceptable. The processing industry is claiming, due to the changed economic climate, that there is too much proposed tonnage in potato contracts for the coming growing season.
Since the start of Belpotato.be, potato contracts, contract conditions and their correct compliance have been a major focus. In recent years, Belpotato.be, led by the FPS Economy, has made considerable efforts to achieve an improved and more balanced agreement.
The code of conduct for drawing up contracts in the potato sector is an annex to the 2005 Laruelle code, i.e. the contractual agriculture convention. The aim of this convention is to ensure a better balance in trade relations between agricultural products on the one hand and the suppliers or customers of these agricultural producers on the other.
In 2006, the convention for the potato sector was supplemented with the code of conduct. This was updated for the first time in 2021 at the instigation of Belpotato.be. Last year, on the occasion of Interpom, the 2nd update of this code of conduct was presented and signed by all members of Belpotato.be.
It was only a few months ago that Boerenbond, ABS, FWA, Fiwap and Belgapom agreed to the update of the code of conduct. The consultation that preceded it was sometimes difficult, the road was long but everything always happened in a constructive atmosphere with respect for all parties at the table.
For Belpotato.be, the unilateral reduction of the contracted quantity that has already been signed by both parties is unprecedented and unacceptable. Belpotato.be also emphasizes that not confirming to the farmers for weeks how much the contract quantity will be, shows little respect for the potato producers. Farmers have been busy for a long time drawing up a cultivation plan and concluding the possible cultivation contracts that are necessary for this. And when everything is fixed, the potato grower starts making agreements for the delivery of the seed potatoes because the planting season is just around the corner.
It is unacceptable that at that moment, just before the planting season starts, you get the cold shower over you with the message that you can grow 10 or 20% less potatoes under contract than previously anticipated. Mutual respect and trust are essential for a good relationship between farmers and their buyers and these are precisely what a number of actors in the sector are completely lacking. Belpotato.be therefore calls for more respect for the trade relationship between potato producers and buyers.
Belpotato.be therefore urgently requests that agreements made and provided for are complied with by all parties. The trade association will therefore investigate in the coming period how the current situation can be avoided in the future. In turbulent times in the potato market, the trade association is ideally placed to reach a constructive consultation with all players involved in the chain.
