The Scottish government has invested more than £3 million in four new research projects focused on aiding potato and onion growers against harmful pests.
The investment, made in partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), in the Horticulture and Potato Initiative (HAPI), has been welcomed by the AHDB, which has backed one its projects focused on controlling the potato Cyst Nematode pest.
Dr Mike Storey, head of R&D at Potato Council, explained: “The projects are addressing real industry priorities which are of direct benefit to the GB potato industry, which delivers a sales value of £5.7 billion at consumer level.”
'The projects have real scope in aiding Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) control, which is estimated to cost our industry £26m a year. Around 64 per cent of GB potato land is infested with PCN and the disease is identified by growers as one of the most important issues affecting the sustainability of potato production, therefore this new research on biofumigation could have real impact.”
The full details of the HAPIR&D projects can be found here.
