The popularity of sweet potatoes has surged in recent years. While they have long been widely consumed in many parts of the world, over the past few decades, they have also become increasingly familiar in Europe. As an alternative to the common potato, sweet potatoes are now a well-established product on supermarket shelves. This is good news for Decock Plants, which propagates young sweet potato plants for growers across Europe. "European growers are getting better at marketing them, so we are also seeing ever-growing demand," says Gaël Decock of the family-owned company.
© Decock Plants
Decock Plants was founded in 1987 by Gaël's father, Ludo Decock, in Komen, Belgium. The company specialises in producing young plants for professional growers. In addition to sweet potato plants for the fresh produce sector, the range also includes young plants for herb and flower growers. The company operates from its base in Belgium, which has expanded considerably over the years, and also runs a branch in Ethiopia.
Differentiating in propagation
A key way the company sets itself apart in the market is through its propagation method. "The traditional propagation of sweet potato plants is done via slips," Gaël explains. "These are shoots that grow from the sweet potato tuber and can be used to produce new plants. This is the method mainly offered by our competitors in Spain and Portugal, for example. However, we propagate young plants from the mother plant, which comes from our location in Ethiopia. We then carry out the rooting process here in Belgium before distributing to our customers across Europe."
© Decock Plants
This approach requires more effort, but Gaël argues it brings important advantages. "It may be slightly more expensive, but in terms of delivery reliability and opportunities for automation, it sets us apart. Moreover, yields are also higher compared with traditional slip propagation. In Ethiopia, we have a stable climate, which allows us to guarantee production and delivery reliability. And if growers face bad weather locally, we can keep the young plants in our greenhouses here for a while if needed. This gives us flexibility in supplying young plants."
Growing with growers
Decock Plants' main sales markets include Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland. "We have seen a sharp rise in popularity in these regions in recent years. It's an increasingly popular product, which is why many growers in these areas started production about six years ago. However, quite a few stopped due to cultivation challenges and quality issues. Those early problems now seem resolved, and growers have made real progress in sweet potato cultivation. As a result, demand for our young plants continues to increase. I believe there is still much untapped potential in the European market, while we remain open to opportunities in other parts of the world in the future."
© Decock Plants
Does Gaël see competition from imports of sweet potatoes produced outside Europe? "Of course, there is a lot of competition, particularly from Egypt. But consumers seem increasingly interested in locally grown products. European growers are also improving their marketing. Cultivation is only profitable if the entire yield can be sold, from the smallest to the largest sizes. Growers are finding ways to handle these different size categories, and we are growing alongside them."
Present at Potato Europe
Decock Plants will also be showcasing its work at Potato Europe in Lelystad on 3 and 4 September. "We have attended the fair before in Belgium and France, but this year gives us another great opportunity to present ourselves to the wider potato sector. We are very much looking forward to it."
For more information:
Gaël Decock
Decock Plants
Rue des Rubaniers 10
7780 Komen, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)56 558844
[email protected]
www.decockplants.be
