Hidden threats could unseat British potato businesses unless steps are taken now to address long-term plant-health issues. More than 600 potato growers, merchants, seed suppliers, packers and processors gathered near Dundee for Potatoes in Practice (PiP) 2009, sponsored by Potato Council and hosted by SCRI, SAC and CSC Potatocare.
Warnings on the devastating disease Dickeya (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) and progress on the Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) Directive dominated discussions at the event, that took place on Thursday (August 13). The largest field-based potato gathering in the UK, it was a chance for industry representatives to catch up on the latest potato-related research.
"The more we understand about Dickeya, the more serious we realise the implications are for the British crop," warned SCRI’s Ian Toth at the Potato Council seminars at PiP. Scottish government and Potato Council-funded research, as well as collaboration with international partners, is "producing some interesting but uncomfortable findings", he told growers.
On the continent Dickeya has already cut a deep swathe through potato profitability, according to findings shared at a recent international workshop, said Dr Toth. Over 20 per cent of the 2007 Dutch seed crop was downgraded as a result of the disease, while losses in the country have increased fivefold in recent years to a staggering €25 million. Early reports from the continent suggest this season could be similar to 2007.
"We don’t yet have a problem in Scotland, but it’s an on-going concern in England and Wales. At present sourcing seed through the Safe Haven Accreditation Scheme is just about the only way we can limit introduction of the disease."
SASA’s Jon Pickup brought growers up-to-date with the latest developments of the PCN directive in Scotland. Industry representatives, including Potato Council, are due to meet with the Scottish Government in early September to fine-tune how the directive will be implemented and the practical implications for growers.
"A key issue is the PCN control and waste disposal measures for ware production on infested land, which growers may be faced with as a result of the wider sampling programme," noted Dr Pickup.
Farm-saved seed and ware land will be included in sampling for the first time when the directive comes into force in July 2010, and a much greater sample size will be taken than current practice. This will increase the chances of detection, but industry and government are working together to ensure this does not compromise the marketability of the ware crop affected.
Although the ware testing will only be on a small percentage of land, the aim is to ensure that viable ware land should not be removed from production, even if it is infested with PCN.
"These measures will be costly but we are working with the industry to ensure the directive brings benefits in terms of a more sustainable industry," said Dr Pickup.
Britain, and Scotland in particular, trades on its high health status, noted Potato Council head of seed and export Mark Prentice. "There needs to be a clear focus on protecting clean land, which may mean more compromise, and Potato Council will be working hard to ensure this is proportionate and fair," he said.
But it is in the long-term interest of the industry to address hidden plant health threats, he said. "Issues such as Dickeya, PCN and ring rot are often out of sight, so it is easy to disregard them as low priority. PiP has been hugely beneficial at highlighting not only the scale of these threats, but also the fundamental and practical research needed to address them."
