Jun 26, 2024

World Potato Congress honors Industry Award winners

Nine remarkable individuals were honored at the 12th World Potato Congress in Adelaide, Australia, for their significant contributions to the global potato industry. The awards were presented by Peter VanderZaag, president of World Potato Congress (WPC, during a sold-out closing Gala Dinner at the iconic Adelaide Oval, attended by over 800 guests.

Award winners

• Nelio Campelio, Philippines: Recognized for adopting the Apical Rooted Cutting technique and establishing a family business that transformed potato production with the locally bred variety “Igorota.”
• Walter Davidson, Canada: Honored for building W.D. Potato Limited, a third-generation family-owned business that significantly impacts the potato chip processing industry in North America.
• Abd-Allah Md Dhaif-Allah, Yemen: Commended for supporting the Thamar Valley community with excellent seed potatoes and contributing to food security despite ongoing conflict in Yemen.
• Dr. Paul Horne, Australia: Celebrated for his work in integrated pest management (IPM) and reducing pesticide reliance, benefiting potato crops and other agricultural sectors.
• Dr. Liping Jin, China: Acknowledged for breeding over thirty potato varieties, publishing significant research, and increasing potato yields across China.
• Dr. Mohinder Singh Kadian, India: Recognized for his decades-long dedication to potato crop improvement in India and South Asia, significantly benefiting the farming community.
• Frank Mitolo, Australia: Honored for leading Mitolo Family Farms, a vertically integrated business that has become a cornerstone of Australian agriculture.
• Alan Pye, South Australia and New Zealand (posthumously): Celebrated for his visionary work in the potato industry, including founding Parilla Premium Potatoes and contributing to Dairy Holdings.
• Dengshe (Don) Wang, China: Commended for founding SnowValley Agriculture Group, developing new potato varieties, and enhancing the potato industry in China.

“These individuals have made remarkable contributions to the potato industry, and their work has had a profound impact on communities worldwide,” said VanderZaag.

The award ceremony highlighted the dedication and innovation within the potato industry, celebrating those who have made significant strides in enhancing potato production and sustainability.