Predicta Pt, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) soil testing service for the potato industry, has received the John Deere Productivity Partner Award at the 2014 AUSVEG Awards for Excellence in June.
The national horticulture industry awards, presented on the weekend at the Cairns Convention Centre in Queensland, follow a year after Dr Ophel Keller received the Award for Research Excellence at the 2013 AUSVEG awards.
SARDI received the accolade for their efforts in successfully developing a DNA diagnostic soil test, which enables potato growers to better understand the risk of three major potato diseases developing in their crops.
Predicta Pt is considered a valuable and cost-effective way for potato growers to manage disease and make informed decisions prior to planting.
The service was launched commercially in August 2013 and has received widespread support from growers, processors and agronomists across the country.
AUSVEG Chief Executive Mr Richard Mulcahy said the SARDI research, funded by industry through the Australian potato levy and government agencies, has directly benefited productivity of the $500 million potato industry.
Common pathogens in potato growing causes diseases linked to yield and production losses costing up to $80 million a year.
“SARDI has provided tangible benefits to potato growers through the development of the Predicta Pt soil testing service,” Mr Mulcahy said.
SARDI’s latest award was accepted by the incoming president of AUSVEG SA, Jordan Brooke-Barnett, who said PreDicta Pt is a great new asset for the potato industry.
“It’s definitely something that industry will use widely into the future, and I’m proud that it’s been developed in South Australia,” he said.
South Australia produces about 80% of the nation’s fresh washed potatoes and is a major producer of processing potatoes.
After many years in development, the PreDicta Pt service was rolled out for commercial release last year.
Funding came from the Australian Potato Research Program, using the potato levy and other contributions through Horticulture Australia Limited, and matching funds from the Federal Government and State Government primary industries researchers in SA, Victoria and Tasmania.
The research is the part of a broader international collaboration with UK Potato Council and NZ Plant and Food Research.
PreDicta Pt assesses the risk of soilborne pathogens which reduce yield and tuber quality caused by powdery scab, root knot nematode, Rhizoctonia, black dot, verticillium wilt and common scab. The soil test results are linked to disease risk and the implementation of appropriate disease management strategies.
Potato growers can access PreDicta Pt via agronomists accredited by SARDI to interpret the results and provide advice on management options to reduce the risk of disease losses.
The service is likely to include testing for additional potato diseases in the future.
Along with PreDicta B, the DNA-based diagnostic soil tests for broadacre crops, SARDI is building an impressive suite of accessible and affordable tests to decrease disease risk and lift production.
PreDicta Pt senior research officer Mike Rettke and Dr Kathy Ophel Keller at SARDI’s Molecular Diagnostics offices at the Plant Research Centre, Waite Campus.
SARDI supports horticultural value chains in the areas of plant health, pest and disease identification, biosecurity, climate risk management, irrigation and salinity management, post-harvest innovation and packaging, sensory testing, food safety and export market access.
