Potato Council calls emergency summit for growers
The Potato Council is calling on growers to attend an emergency summit being organised in the new year to rescue the industry following three torrid years.
Potato Council chairman Allan Stevenson said solidarity within the industry was needed in order to address the current challenges and help develop solutions to form a more sustainable and profitable sector.
“I want to look how we can re-balance our industry in a fair way and get all the issues out in the open for all to see.
“We in Great Britain have a very modern and innovative potato sector that leads the world in many ways, but we are laggards in making sure the supply chain works effectively and fairly. This has to change in the season ahead,” said Mr Stevenson.
The plan unveiled at the Seed Industry Event this week, in Crieff, captured the thoughts of over 90 industry players focusing on agreed priorities including addressing the apparent yield plateau, developing better storage, securing plant health, supporting seed, countering fresh decline and supporting processing.
Challenging the industry, Mr Stevenson concluded: “We have what we believe to be a well balanced and highly-focused plan that takes the industry on a journey towards profitability and sustainability.
“But to succeed we will require everybody to reflect on the previous two seasons and help us identify what needs to change.”
