Cambridge University Farm welcomed members of the press to its site this week to showcase its technological advances for potato growers and agronomists.

The research has been driven by the industry's needs, and has been a collaboration between farmers and growers.

'It's important that growers know about research and development work, it's their key investment for the future,' the British Potato Council's (BPC) r&d director Dr Mike Storey said.

At Cambridge University Farm around £90,000 has been invested into research on soil nitrogen supply between April 2001 and March 2004, with an emphasis on canopy management.

Research has also been done into BPC reference crops, with annual funding of £40,000. The studies will look at information including crop monitoring, proof of RB209, predicting irrigation dates and results will eventually be posted on the internet.

Rob Clayton, the BPC's agronomist, told freshinfo: We see reference crops as the model for crop monitoring and for prediction.' Blackleg diagnostics are another area of research, with £480,000 being invested into studies between June 2001 and December 2004. The research is supported by SEERAD, with SCRI as the lead partner, and looks at an 'old disease' with new tests and considering contemporary seed management and ware agronomy.

Clayton said: 'Yes, we've heard about this disease before but we've got new technology in terms of testing.' Also promoted at the conference was the 2002 Potato Variety Handbook from NIAB, previously known as the BPC's Independent Trails Handbook.

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