Elveden Farms selected as Regional Research & Demonstration Hub for potato growers and suppliers

Elveden is a 22,500 acre country estate, of which over 10,000 acres is farmland. The land at Elveden was transformed for agricultural use in 1927 by Rupert Guinness, great great grandson of Arthur Guinness (founder of the Guinness brewery.) The field layout he implemented is still virtually identical today, with large fields of up to 100 acres in size that are well-suited to today’s powerful machinery, and pays testament to his forward-thinking attitude. 25,000 tonnes of potatoes are grown at Elveden annually

april 11, 2016

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AHDB Potatoes

A West Suffolk estate is set to become a Regional Research & Demonstration Hub for potato growers and suppliers, thanks to funding from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative.

The project, coordinated and co-funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s Potatoes Division (AHDB Potatoes), has been awarded £109,273 and will be located at Elveden Farms in West Suffolk, and will provide a unique opportunity for the industry to see the latest research innovations and practical science in action.

The site will promote improved business and agricultural productivity and resource management, alongside providing a space for knowledge exchange and collaborative working.

Elveden Farms is a world-class producer and purveyor of local and regional food excellence with a reputation for wildlife conservation, in harmony with sustainable farming practices - making it the ideal location to establish a Strategic Potato (SPot) Farm.

The SPot Farm is a practical, farmer-driven project which is all about giving growers the confidence to implement changes on their own farms. It builds on a wealth of evidence based upon AHDB Potatoes scientific research.

Jenny Bashford, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager and project coordinator:

“It’s not just about bridging the gap between research and farm practice. The real value lies in stimulating discussion.”

“SPot will enable everyone involved in the industry to interact, highlighting any gaps where information needs to be more available. There is also a sharing of knowledge as well as the latest research-based thinking to take back to growers’ own potato enterprises.”

“We’re delighted to have the backing of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to enable this ambitious and beneficial project to take place.”

“I’m also looking forward to the experience of working with someone of the calibre of innovative farm manager Andrew Francis and his motivated team at Elveden.”

“As our SPot Farm hosts, they will help us challenge conventional working practices and, using proven research, demonstrate how potato growers can benefit from applying beneficial adjustments to commercial growing systems.”

Andrew Francis, Senior Farms Manager at Elveden, added:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Elveden and the wider community. It will allow us to engage with the country’s best scientists and find ways of putting the research into practice.”

“Through the knowledge exchange activities this experience will be available to all growers, and we will be able to lead change in the industry and look forward to a sustainable future.”

Mark Reeve, Chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP):

“AHDB came to us with a project to help drive forward innovation in the potato industry, which will help growers and suppliers improve their knowledge and implement the latest industry ideas on their own farms.”

“Driving forward innovation is a key focus of the LEP, I am therefore pleased to offer Elveden funding to run the SPot Farm, which will help keep the East of England at the forefront of this industry.”

Chris Starkie, managing director of New Anglia LEP:

“Norfolk and Suffolk are demonstrating their world class expertise in food and health research and development. This project is a great example of how our farming businesses are building and improving that scientific knowledge for the greater good of suppliers across the industry and consumers across the world.”

The Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative is run by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP) with support from New Anglia LEP, Norfolk County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, and the local authorities covering this area.

Grants are available to organisations looking to invest in specialist equipment, new market and supply chain development, ways to improve productivity and efficiency, and the application and commercialisation of Research and Development.

To find out how the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative could help to grow your business, visit www.agritechgrants.co.uk or call the LEP on +44 1480 277180