The official closing ceremonies of the 9th World Potato Congress (WPC) in Beijing were highlighted by the presentation of the triennial Industry Awards. The awards recognize outstanding personal contribution and leadership related to development and progress of the global potato industry.
The awards were presented by World Potato Congress Inc. president and CEO David Thompson and Awards Committee interim chair and WPC vice president John MacQuarrie. Five individuals were presented with symbolic plaques to commemorate the occasion.
The 2015 award recipients are Dr. Kevin Clayton-Green of Tasmania, Australia; Dr. Neil C. Gudmestad of the U.S.; Kees van Arendonk of the Netherlands; Albert T. Wada of the U.S.; and Dr. Yili Chen, China.
Dr. Kevin Clayton-Green
Following receipt of his Ph.D. from Melbourne University in 1982, Clayton-Green played a leading role in developing the blueberry industry and served as a chairman of the Australian Blueberry Council. In 1993 he joined Harvest Moon, a leading Tasmanian fresh vegetable exporter, where he played a major role in introducing and developing new potato varieties to the Australian industry. He was also responsible for introducing the major processing variety for McCain Foods.
Clayton-Green continues to work on improving the Australian potato and horticulture industry purely for industry’s benefit. He initiated the formation of a Tasmanian seed potato group to ensure Tasmania’s industry and biosecurity matters are addressed and represented.
Most recently, he assisted in the formulation of future R&D programs to benefit the industry.
Dr. Neil C. Gudmestad
Gudmestad obtained a Ph.D. in plant pathology in 1982 and joined the Department of Plant Pathology at North Dakota State University in 1985. Gudmestad’s 30-year research career at NDSU has focused on pathogen biology
and diversity and on potato disease management. The diseases he studies affect the potato plant from seed tuber to storage. All of his efforts are aimed at solving real-world problems facing the potato industry. This “one foot in the furrow” philosophy—making certain that his science finds solutions to practical problems—has guided Gudmestad’s research throughout his career.
In January 2015, he was named the Neil C. Gudmestad Endowed Chair of Potato Pathology. The Neil C. Gudmestad Endowed Chair is the first fully endowed faculty position at NDSU, and it is the first time a current faculty member has had a position named in his or her honor.
Kees van Arendonk
After the completion of his studies at the Agricultural University in Dronten, Netherlands, and the University of Nyenrode, van Aredonk began his career in 1973 with potato cooperative Agrico. In 1986 he became general sales manager for seed potatoes, and in 1989 he was promoted to commercial director. However, most people know him as CEO of the Cooperative Agrico Group. Under van Arendonk’s leadership, Agrico became one of the key players in the international potato world, especially in new seed potato varieties.
In 1999 van Arendonk oversaw the merging of the Dutch potato organizations into what is now the Dutch Organzation of Potato Merchants (NAO). He was subsequently elected president of the NAO and since 2009 has also served as the president of the European Potato Trade Association (Europatat).
Albert T. Wada
Wada is chairman of Wada Farms Inc., an agricultural enterprise in Idaho growing fresh and process potatoes, seed and commercial wheat, corn, alfalfa and malt barley. Wada Farms grows crops on approximately 30,000 irrigated acres and includes a trucking company, a potato packing plant and a potato, sweet potato and onion marketing company.
Wada helped educate the industry on supply, demand and price as the founding chairman of United Potato Growers of Idaho and the United Potato Growers of America. He helped lead the United Potato Growers of Idaho cooperative members into ownership of a dehydrated potato processing company, Idahoan Foods.
He has received wide recognition for his efforts including awards such as Potato Man of the Year, Top 25 Produce Leaders from The Packer, Idaho Potato Grower of the Year, Idaho Governor’s Award for Marketing Innovation, and induction into the Idaho Potato Expo Hall of Fame.
Dr. Yili Chen
After graduating from the Northeast Agricultural University in 1970, Chen dedicated his career to potato genetics and breeding and related researches and teachings. As a potato breeder, he has released more than 10 new potato varieties that have been widely planted in China. As a supervisor, he guided six Ph.D. students and 30 master’s students over the years. Most of these students play important roles in China’s potato industry.
As secretary general of the China Potato Association, Chen has successfully organized 15 China Potato Congresses since 1999. In order to push the potato industry forward, he participated in drafting regulations and standards and served as a consultant for several potato companies. He also ran a number of training courses for potato farmers related to potato production.
Chen has worked as the editor-in-chief the Chinese Potato Journal for over 20 years and published more than 30 books. He has been recognized for his huge contribution to the potato industry in China, receiving more than 10 awards from different levels of the industry.
Source: Potato Pro