Uncertainties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus have prompted the cancelation of Potato Europe 2020, originally planned for September 2-3 at Villers-Saint-Christophe, France. Meanwhile, all systems are “Go” for the Interpom 2020 trade show in Kortrijk, Belgium, though the dates have been slightly altered to November 23-25.
According to statement issued by the organizing committee of Potato Europe 2020: “The general level of uncertainty along with the ongoing health crisis, the measures of physical distancing imposed and the restrictions on international travel that persist put us in case of emergency and force us to make this difficult decision.”
The Potato Europe outdoor program had promised numerous dynamic demonstrations, while technical workshops and conferences were to be held indoors. Four hundred exhibitors were preparing to welcome 15,000 visitors, one third of whom were expected to come from abroad.
“Welcoming such a large audience is now made improbable by the limit currently set by the French government at 5,000 people for outdoor events; moreover, international participation is obviously highly compromised due to current and future restrictions concerning international travel,” stated the organizer.
Meanwhile, Potato Europe 2021 is scheduled for September in Emmeloord, the Netherlands. Exact dates have yet to be announced.
Interpom Aims to Connect in ‘Post-Coronavirus World’
Meanwhile, with approximately six months to go, organizers of the 20th edition of Interpom at the Kortrijk Xpo are looking forward to going “live” again this autumn, holding face-to-face meetings, discovering new developments and “contributing to every initiative that will keep things moving in the potato sector.” The trade show’s theme is: Let’s Connect the Potato Chain in the Post-Coronavirus World.
The organizing team is taking all necessary precautions to facilitate contact and consultation between all parties in a safe environment. However, in order to comply with the social distancing measures that will undoubtedly still be in place due to the Covid-19, Kortrijk Xpo has decided – with the support of Belgapom and various stakeholders – to reschedule days of the event from Sunday-Monday-Tuesday to Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday.
The originally scheduled kickoff on Sunday, which is usually the busiest day of the exhibition (with 9,000 visitors and many family visits), will instead take place on Monday and the trade show will end on Wednesday. This should help reduce crowd density, which means visitors will be spread more evenly over three “professional days.” All delegates will have to register in advance, thus allowing the organizer to limit the number of attendees per day and to control the flow of foot traffic in accordance with the limits that will be in place in November 2020.
The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the various links in the potato chain will undoubtedly be the main topic for discussion within the Kortrijk Xpo fairgrounds. Most players in the sector have questions that remain unanswered and are looking forward to discussing new approaches to be adopted in the post-coronavirus world. Interpom will focus on this issue by means of a fringe program featuring targeted seminars/webinars, on-site interviews, and new digital tools.
Furthermore, exhibitors will receive special attention via an “Innovation Showcase Tour,” in which an independent panel of experts will make a selection of relevant pioneering solutions on the market that provide significant added value to further improve the sustainability and professionalization of the potato sector.
Interpom is an initiative of Belgapom, the association for the Belgian potato trade and processing industry. The practical organization of the fair is handled by Kortrijk Xpo. Although the show is almost fully booked, there is still room for a few more exhibitors to book space. For more information, contact Annick Pycarelle by phoning +32 (0) 56 24 11 11, via e-mail at interpom@kortrijkxpo.com, or visit www.interpom.be.
