Hungría: This is the only way for domestic potato production to survive.

Based on experience, the Hungarian market requires red-skinned potatoes, which means that Isterra must also focus on those varieties that meet the expectations of Hungarian end users. High productivity, good skin quality, storability, which is necessary for use, in other words, it does not matter what type of cooking or use the potatoes are that they can offer. -We can respond to these needs and beyond Hungary, Isterra has an important role in delivering the products of these breeding companies to other countries in the region. Export markets are served through us, here I am primarily thinking of Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia and Romania -he added.

In Hungary, seed potato production has almost ceased in recent years and the area where seed potato propagation takes place is between 50 and 100 hectares. 80-90 percent of the needs are met by imports. Primarily from the Netherlands, Germany and France, these are the most significant seed potato propagation countries, as they can provide the phytosanitary environment that is very important for the healthy cultivation of the potatoes produced by Isterra. 

The Hungarian manager of Isterra sees the company as playing an important role in increasing the current 5-6 thousand hectares of cultivated area. -We are working on this and we are spreading the information and experiences everywhere, thanks to which very good results can be achieved with our varieties. Considering the average of several years, with Isterra varieties - under appropriate conditions and with optimal nutrient and water supply - 50-70 tons of potatoes can be produced per hectare.

Unfortunately, the Hungarian average is somewhere between 21-30 tons, the reason for which is to be found in the unirrigated areas. Potato cultivation has special machinery requirements, so anyone who would like to start now should definitely rent or buy a machine suitable for planting and harvesting. Seed potatoes are also available, and after that only the cultivation conditions need to be ensured, which requires practice and knowledge.

If we assume that domestically produced potatoes will run out during the fall, and after that we will only be able to buy imported potatoes, then this can also be changed in the future through sectoral cooperation, which can prove that potatoes produced in Hungary are of appropriate quality and more than meet all the expectations set by buyers and trading companies.