Potato sector facts •
UK potato production is a £700m industry
• UK is one of the world’s top 20 producers
• Over 80% of potatoes we eat are UK grown
(source: Climate Coalition) temperatures. Staffordshire potato grower
Flooding as well as drought is expected to become more frequent
Potato yields were down on
average 20% in England and Wales in 2018 compared to the previous season. Carrots yields (reportedly down 25-30%) and on- ions (down 40%) were also ham- pered by warmer than average
Richard Thompson said: “Yields were down 20-25% in 2018. We also had quality issues with a lot of misshapen and small po- tatoes. I’ll be reducing my acre- age next year because I can’t af- ford to take the risk of planting more potatoes.”
Big losses The report draws on research by the Priestley International Cen- tre for Climate. It says the UK can expect more frequent ex- treme weather events – including longer-lasting and more intense heatwaves – and a one-in-three chance of record-breaking rainfall in some areas each winter.
Knowledge exchange expert set to boost potato sector
Potato specialist David Wilson has taken on the role of AHDB knowledge exchange manager for the crop across East Anglia and south-east England. Mr Wilson will use his experi- ence and knowledge of the pota- to industry to work with growers on a number of key initiatives – supporting farmers in a key pota- to growing region of the UK and encouraging the sharing of knowl- edge and expertise. Having started out as a farm manager and then agronomist, Mr Wilson’s CV includes time spent at leading food manufacturer Mc- Cains. He joins AHDB from agro- chemical fi rm Syngenta where he was employed as an area manag- er and potato specialist. “Joining AHDB’s Arable Knowledge Exchange Team seemed like a natural progres- sion,” he said. “I’m looking for- ward to supporting growers by
sharing knowledge, challenging perceptions and providing new ways of working.”
Key challenges
The industry faces a number of key challenges, said Mr Wilson. “Regulatory changes mean that we must be more resourceful when it comes to crop protection, while the prevalence of a number of damaging pests and diseases mean that it remains crucial for growers to be open to new ideas.” The AHDB’s newly-formed ar- able knowledge exchange team has been created by merging the organisation’s potatoes and cere- als and oilseeds sector teams. It brings together expertise and levy payer facing activity across cere- als, oilseeds and potatoes. Mr Wilson joins Bill Watts, who recently joined as potatoes knowl- edge exchange manager for the West Midlands.
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APRIL 2019 • ANGLIA FARMER 29
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