A record 715 growers, traders, seed suppliers, packers and processors attended Potatoes in Practice in Dundee earlier this month, to discuss the threat of the EU pesticide review and the latest Potato Council-led research.
The event, sponsored by the Potato Council and hosted by the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and CSC Potatocare, was a chance for industry representatives from across the world to catch up on the latest potato-related research.
Potato Council chairman Allan Stevenson called for the industry to act by campaigning against proposed measures that would result in the loss of some mainstay sprays, including crucial blight fungicides and herbicides.
He said: “The biggest issue facing the potato sector is the ability to provide affordable potatoes to consumers, which is seriously threatened by the potential impact of changing European pesticide regulation.”
A brand-new guide on the control of major skin disease black dot was launched at the event. The document, which will be sent to all levy payers, summarises years of research carried out by SAC, SCRI and ADAS in an easy-to-use format.
Stuart Wale, from SAC, led the Potato Council-funded project. He said: “Black dot has proven a real challenge for the industry because there are so many factors that contribute towards it as a problem, and you don’t know whether your management has been a success until well into the storage season.
“Recent research has brought major advances in our understanding and ability to predict this disease accurately, and it is time for growers to benefit. The beauty of this guide is that it meets the level of understanding any grower would need about black dot, from basic action points to the technical detail.”
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