The potato may seem like a simple crop, but behind Groningen's potato starch industry lies a history full of innovation and unexpected developments. Four history students from the University of Groningen delved into that story and discovered how a regional industry grew into an innovative player with international significance. Their research resulted in a new book, which was presented at a fitting location during Campus Café - The Christmas Edition, at the Avebe Innovation Centre on the Zernike Campus.
From lecture hall to book launch
The idea for the book arose during a lecture on regional development given by Dorien Knaap and Marijn Molema. Seventeen students investigated how the potato starch industry has always managed to adapt to new circumstances. Four of them (Jarno Welp, Casper Colenbrander, Roelof de Jong and Lisabeth Woltjer) decided to compile their findings in a reader-friendly book:
Mission (un)accomplished. Two centuries of innovation in the potato starch industry.
A festive launch at our own Christmas get-together
The launch took place at a location that could not have been more symbolic: during Campus Café - The Christmas Edition, organised this year at Avebe. Surrounded by colleagues, researchers and campus partners, Marijn Molema and two of the students presented the first copy to Avebe's longest-serving employee.
Groningen Campus as an innovation ecosystem
This project is an example of how a campus presence stimulates collaboration between businesses and knowledge institutions. Students are given the opportunity to conduct research that directly impacts the region. Businesses, in turn, benefit from new insights and talent.
The book also demonstrates how important innovation remains for a sustainable future. Today's challenges - from circular production to plant-based proteins - tie in seamlessly with the research conducted daily at Campus Groningen.
Want to read more?
The full article from Dagblad van het Noorden about the project and the history of the potato starch industry can be found here.
