News on The Potato Supply Chain from United Kingdom

The dwindling availability of insecticide seed treatment and nematicides has paved the way for pest control using entomopathogenic nematodes.

North Yorkshire potato grower Tim Rooke has been re-elected chair of the NFU Potato Forum. Tim, who farms 240 hectares of potatoes, also grows crops on 400 hectares of his farm.

They’re one of the UK’s most loved staples, providing around half of our carbohydrate intake as a nation and supporting over 20,000 farm, transport and manufacturing jobs.

Scottish seed potato exports amounted to over 92,000 tonnes in 2023/24. The largest market is Egypt with 60% of exports, followed by Morocco with 10%. The remainder goes to a further 26 countries with volumes varying from thousands of tonnes to a few hundred. 

The British Potato Industry Event 2025 is back this November, uniting professionals from across the potato supply chain for two action-packed days of networking, innovation, and industry insights.

AKP Group, one of the UK’s leading potato supply chain specialists, has announced the acquisition of Yorkshire-based Whole Crop Marketing Ltd (WCM), further enhancing the group’s position as a trusted partner in the UK potato sector.

Scottish potato specialist Albert Bartlett has underlined the challenges posed by Brexit and cost inflation amid the continued fallout from the pandemic after enjoying a surge in profits.

Leading potato supplier Branston is once again encouraging schools to sign up for the Grow Your Own Potatoes programme this year, as one of the sponsors of the primary school-based farm-to-fork initiative.

Fera scientists have made breakthrough progress with industry-steered wireworm research, highlighting where and when the pest is expected to pose the highest risk to arable and fresh produce crops over the next two decades. 

GB Potatoes has announced that Alex Godfrey will be taking over the reins as Chairman after being elected at the Annual General meeting on the 12th December. Alex takes over from Mark Taylor who has been the Chair ever since the launch of the organisation in 2022.

Nanna Tate is a stand-out new potato brand which has been developed by Branston, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of potatoes. With a focus on recreating the nostalgia evoked by the best potato dishes, Nanna Tate builds on Branston’s 50 plus years of potato expertise, adding a modern twist while tapping into the enduring love that Brits have for the humble spud.

Meeting the challenges will be the focus of the 26th annual gathering in Dundee of the country’s leading potato producers and the companies that support them.

The ambitious net-zero goals of leading potato supplier Branston have been recognised by a pioneering organisation that supports businesses around the world to tackle the climate crisis.

The potatoes sector is to benefit from the delivery of seven industry projects funded by residual levy reserves, after a grant agreement was signed between AHDB and GB Potatoes.

Potato farmers have been hit by rising costs and bad weather affecting harvests. Robert Strathern, of Fairfields Farm at Wormingford, near Colchester, described a wet spring that delayed the harvest, making it a 'race against the clock and the weather.'

Potato Days UK, held in early September at Dyson farming’s Nocton Farm in Lincolnshire, ended on a high note, meeting visitor and exhibitor expectations.

Fibe, a London-based material science company, has developed the world’s first textile fibre from potato harvest waste (stems and leaves), garnering the attention of investors and industry experts alike.

The Masser Family of Companies (MFC), the eighth-generation family-owned potato farming company, announced a strategic partnership with Szawlowski Potato Farms (SWAZ), a fifth-generation farm.