News on The Potato Supply Chain from Europe

July 27, 2012

Angry reaction to GM potatoes go-ahead in Ireland

Top names from the food, restaurant, and tourism sectors have sharply criticised the Environmental Protection Agency for potentially destroying Ireland’s 'clean, green'agricultural image by allowing GM potatoes to be grown in Ireland.

July 26, 2012

Green light for growing GM potatoes in Ireland

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today given consent to Teagasc, Oak Park, Co Carlow, to carry out field trials on a genetically modified (GM) potato line with improved resistance to late potato blight.

July 25, 2012

Rain driving spread of potato blight in Scotland

One of the scourges of the potato crop – blight – has now been found in all the major growing areas of Scotland, with infestation levels running well ahead of average.

July 13, 2012

Potato sowings drop in Ireland

Potato growers have cut production by as much as 27pc in the past two years in an effort to curb losses on the crop.

July 12, 2012

Potato growers in Britain face weather-related challenges

Potato growers are facing many weather-related challenges and recent warm, wet weather has led to a massive increase in the number of Smith Periods this year so far, says Potato Council executive and blight specialist Gary Collins.

July 09, 2012

Agrico takes 100% interest in Perunaseppä OY, Finland

On July 2nd, 2012, the Agrico Group acquired all the shares of the Finnish Perunaseppä OY through its subsidiary Agrico Nordic AB, Sweden.

July 05, 2012

Green light for further research with GM potatoes in Belgium

One year after the protest against the test fields for GM potatoes in Ghent, the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) has been given the green light for a second phase of research.

July 03, 2012

Targeted water use could save costs for potato growers

About half of British potato growers do not calculate crop need. Many still irrigate a fixed quantity, regardless of rainfall and evaporation rates, leading to either wasteful or insufficient application of water.

July 03, 2012

Search is on for prestigious potato industry award winner in Britain

otato Council is seeking nominations for this year's British Potato Industry Award.

June 30, 2012

Advice to put potato in fine dining league

The West Midlands Potato Day, held at Corfton Farms, Craven Arms, on June 20, was a huge success again this year.

June 30, 2012

Fewer Jersey Royal potatoes are exported

Farmers expect to export fewer Jersey Royal potatoes in 2012 compared with previous years.

June 28, 2012

New blight strain prompts fungicide concerns in the UK

Dutch tests on a new strain of potato blight similar to that discovered for the first time in the UK last year have shown some isolates have reduced sensitivity to the common active fluazinam used to control the disease.

June 28, 2012

World Potato Congress information available online

Everyone who attended the World Potato Congress last month agreed that WPC 2012 was a huge success. Now, speaker presentations and video's are available online. It's a great opportunity to have another look at the great presentations or take a look at...

June 27, 2012

Solynta's fast hybrid potato breeding program nominated for the Food Valley Award

Solynta's fast hybrid potato breeding program one of the three nominees for the 2012 Food Valley Award. Potatoes are the world's third most important food crop after rice and wheat. They are significantly more efficient in their use of water and nutri...

June 25, 2012

Advice for British growers to cover challenging blight conditions

Potato crops in Britain are facing high blight pressure this season, demanding the best possible protection under extremely challenging application conditions.

June 25, 2012

The buzz around World Potato Congress

The biggest potato conference ever held in Britain, World Potato Congress 2012, took place in Edinburgh in May, attracting more than 800 delegates from over 50 countries to discuss the world’s third most important food crop.

June 24, 2012

War on waste in the potato supply chain

everal key actions to drive out waste from the potato supply chain, including improved agronomy, were outlined at the recent World Potato Congress in Edinburgh.

June 22, 2012

Sainsbury's potato buyer jailed for £9m scam

A Sainsbury's potato buyer who funded a millionaire's lifestyle by taking part in a scam that stole money from the supermarket giant has been jailed for four years.