News on The Potato Supply Chain from United Kingdom

The total 2019 planted Great Britain area (revised estimate) is 118.95K ha. This updated estimate puts the area 1% higher than last year and represents the GB area covered by over 90% of producers.

Chinese delegation confirms UK seed potato exports to the world's most populous country won't be affected either Brexit outcome. British seed potatoes will continue to be accepted by Chinese customs whatever the outcome of Brexit, according to AHDB.

The Lincolnshire Agricultural Equipment Manufacturer Scotts, which manufactures a range of vegetable harvesting machinery, celebrated its Silver anniversary on 11th September.

The first of Tong Engineering’s latest Fieldloader machine, the FieldLoad PRO, is proving to bring a dramatic reduction in loading times at one of the UK’s larger vegetable producers and processors; MH Poskitt Ltd.

The fresh chipping sector makes up about 12% of total potato production in Great Britain. The market follows season trends with demand driven by chip shop footfall throughout the year.

Scotts Precision Manufacturing is aiming to finish its record-breaking year in style with its largest-ever presence at British Potato 2019. The Lincolnshire manufacturer of vegetable harvesting equipment will have two stands at the Harrogate show.

Red Tractor are looking for industry feedback on potential changes to the Safe Haven Standards, the seed potato assurance scheme.

Scientists discover wild potatoes key for stronger spuds.

In the United Kingdom, restrictions on the use of products containing Maleic Hydrazide (MH) - used to control volunteers and to suppress sprouting during storage - have been removed following a review by the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) of the HSE.

Recent research at the James Hutton Institute suggests that limited genetic differences in potato lineages has left British and American spuds vulnerable to late blight, the disease that caused the Irish potato famine.

UK consumers may face a home-grown potatoes shortage next year as stocks run out due to new storage rules.

Scotts Precision Manufacturing is reporting a record year, with sales of its Evolution separator and Trinity range of haulm toppers up by over 30%.

Ayrshire potatoes have been granted special status under EU rules to protect them from imitation.

Puffin Produce Ltd. unveiled a new look for its Blas y Tir brand of fresh potatoes, including the new 1kg Blas y Tir Pembrokeshire Earlies, which are now available in supermarkets across Wales.

Scientists are creating a “super potato”, fortified with iron and zinc, in a bid to tackle malnutrition in developing countries.

Recently, drones have been given what might just be their most important ever role: being deployed to protect Scottish potatoes.

We understand that on 17 June 2019 the European Union’s Health and Food Safety Directorate-General Appeal Committee concluded Chlorpropham’s (CIPC) approval for use both as a herbicide and as a sprout suppressant cannot be renewed.

A well-known Norwich crisps brand has embedded its roots in Norfolk for decades to come by investing £2.7m in a new potato processing building - unlocking the factory's future growth potential.