Shake-up for potato storage research

By FWi staff

THE British Potato Council is using a one-year break clause to end the management agreement under which the Rotagrow consortium manages the Sutton Bridge Experimental Unit.

“The Council has been reviewing all aspects of its research strategy,” said BPC chairman David Walker.

“The structure and requirements of the industry are changing rapidly and we need to be sure that our storage research fully reflects those changes and gives a stronger emphasis to obtaining value for money for our levy payers.”

Mr Walker said that he thought the Council was sure that the announcement would inspire discussion of a new approach. “We will be consulting the industry, particularly the NFU and SNFU, as we develop our own strategy for potato storage research,” he said.

During the three-month notice period Rotagrow will continue to manage the experimental unit at Sutton Bridge, along with the current research projects.

Rotagrow will have the option to purchase SBEU during this notice period, said Mr Walker.