Skip to content

News

Webinar February 18, 2021 at 9:00 am EST with Dr. Peter VanderZaag

World Potato Congress Inc. Webinar February 18, 2021 at 09:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time – “Aeroponics for Nuclear Seed Potato Production: History, Status and Challenges” with Dr. Peter VanderZaag

The World Potato Congress is extremely pleased to present its next webinar on Thursday, February 18, 2021 with Dr. Peter VanderZaag, a potato farmer in Canada and due to COVID-19, now an arm chair consultant involved with numerous potato projects in Asia and Africa.

Presentation Outline

The presentation entitled: “Aeroponics for nuclear seed potato production: history, status and challenges” will primarily focus on the development of the technology in China over the last 14 years. Dr. VanderZaag will share some of the major successes and failures with doing minituber tuber production with Aeroponics. Research work being done collaboratively in Chengdu, China into understanding the complex physiology of the potato plant will also be touched on.

Dr. VanderZaag completed his BSc at Cornell University and his PhD studies at the University of Hawaii. Peter was a regional scientist with the International Potato Center (CIP) in Central Africa, SE Asia and established the CIP program in China from 1986. After retiring from CIP, Peter and his wife, Carla, established their own potato farm in Ontario, Canada. The farm is now a multigenerational farm with daughter, Ruth and son-in-law, Nick as partners. Peter has spent considerable time with international work, including serving on the Board of Trustees of CIP. The past six years Peter also served as a visiting Professor at Yunnan Normal University.

Webinar Registration

The host for this webinar will be WPC Director,
Dr. Nora Olsen (norao@uidaho.edu). To register in advance for this February 18, 2021 webinar at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (USA and Canada) go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tTd_dJRHRJuA_E6ZCEtCYQ

Following your registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the webinar.

Upcoming 2021 World Potato Congress Webinars

March 2021 – Albert Schirring, Strategy Lead Vegetables & Potatoes, Bayer AG

April 2021 – Dr. Paul Horne, Director/Entomologist, IPM Technologies PTY, LTD.

Latest News

2025 in Review – An Eventful 2026 to Come

January 5, 2026

As the World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) looks ahead to its 13th Congress in Nairobi, Kenya in 2026, we also take a moment to pause and reflect on the milestones,…

World Potato Congress Inc. Welcomes Idaho Potato Commission as Platinum Sustaining Partner

January 5, 2026

As the World Potato Congress Inc. looks ahead to the excitement of the 13th Congress October 2026 in Kenya, we are pleased to announce the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) as…

Upcoming Webinar – Crop Rotation for WireWorm Control

November 17, 2025

WPC Inc. to present upcoming webinar “Crop Rotation for WireWorm Control” Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – 8:00am EDT (USA/Toronto) Presenter: Christine Noronha, PhD, Research Scientist (Entomology IPM), Agriculture and…

Nora Olsen and Jang Sangha Inaugural “Directors Emeritus” with the World Potato Congress Inc.

November 5, 2025

The World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) is pleased to confer its first Director Emeritus titles to past Directors Nora Olsen and Jang Sangha. A newly proposed “Emeritus Policy” was recently…

Call for Expressions of Interest for to host the World Potato Congress in 2030 and 2032

October 29, 2025

The World Potato Congress Inc. is now calling for expressions of interest from parties interested in hosting the 15th and 16th World Potato Congress to be held in 2030 and…

Wyma Solutions Welcomed as a World Potato Congress Inc. Gold Level Sustaining Partner

October 21, 2025

WPC Inc. is pleased to announce Wyma Solutions as our newest Gold Sustaining Partner. With a heritage dating back to 1962, Wyma Solutions has established itself as a respected and…

Upcoming webinar: Biology and Integrated Management of Potato Common Scab

October 14, 2025

The World Potato Congress Inc. is pleased to present the upcoming webinar: “Biology and Integrated Management of Potato Common Scab.” Date: Monday, October 20, 2025 – 9:00am EDT (USA/Toronto) Presenter:…

TriCal Group welcomed as the World Potato Congress Inc.’s first Diamond Sustaining Partner

October 8, 2025

A 2023 strategic planning process of the World Potato Congress Inc., has driven forward a few organizational and policy changes, one of them being the launch of a new “Diamond”…

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities Now Open for the 13th World Potato Congress WPC 2026 Kenya

August 7, 2025

The Organizing Committee of the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC 2026) is delighted to announce that sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are now officially open for this landmark global event, taking…

WPC President Peter VanderZaag official visit to Kenya- Campaign launch 13th Congress- Kenya- 2026

July 15, 2025

WPC President Peter VanderZaag participates in official visit to Kenya to launch campaign for the 13th World Potato Congress.   Dr. Peter VanderZaag, President of the World Potato Congress, is…

Scroll To Top