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Meeting Newz - 7th World Potato Congress, March 2009, Christchurch

The humble spud was on everyone's lips - and plates - as Christchurch demonstrated its prowess at organising major international conferences by hosting the 7th World Potato Congress.

The humble spud was on everyone's lips - and plates - as Christchurch demonstrated its prowess at organising major international conferences by hosting the 7th World Potato Congress.

The four-day event was organised by Lincoln University's conference team and held in Christchurch's purpose-built Convention Centre. It attracted more than 500 delegates, including potato growers, scientists, marketers, nutritionists and hospitality industry experts from nearly 50 countries.

Nourishing Our Future was the central theme of the Congress, which was officially hosted by Potatoes New Zealand, the organisation which represents the country's 300 potato growers. During the course of the congress the latest world developments in crop management were reviewed and environment and energy issues, food and non-food processing, consumer trends and food safety and quality were discussed.

It was the first time the Congress has been held in the South Pacific and organisers had just 14 months to plan it after the city originally chosen to host the congress, Paris pulled out at the end of 2006.

Christchurch was chosen as the replacement venue because of its many contrasting amenities and the quality of it add-on-tours and partner programmes which allowed delegates to make the most of their chance to explore Canterbury and the South Island.

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