| Potatoes
BP2017 seminars to set
path for potatoes
post-Brexit
Farmers, researchers and the supply chain are to share
the stage during the seminar programme at BP2017 as
the potato industry reviews current performance to
develop its future.
ovember 22 and
23 marks the first
time the biennial
event has taken
place since the EU
referendum, and
seminar programme organisers
AHDB Potatoes will encourage
collaboration as a route to success
for the industry.
To stimulate discussion and
develop closer relationships with
members of the supply chain, this
years’ event includes a panel
debate on ‘The Big Brexit
Opportunity,’ which will benefit
from contributions from all sectors
of the potato industry.
Rob Clayton, Potatoes Strategy
Director at AHDB said: “BP2017
provides a chance for the industry
to pull together, discuss
opportunities and take stock of the
current challenges faced. This
considered approach is needed to
prepare to move forward, with
rapid change on the horizon.
“Opportunities must be taken
quickly. Those who do nothing risk
being left behind as change
carries on. We are trying to
encourage farmers to wake-up
and avoid ‘sleep-walking’ into
Brexit.”
The exhibition, held at the
Harrogate Showground, is the only
event attended by the entire
industry, from ‘seed to shopping
trolley’. The chair of the NFU
Potato Forum will form part of the
panel on Brexit, he farms pigs,
N
produces peas and arable crops
alongside potatoes for the pre-
pack market.
Alex Godfrey, said: “Forward
thinking potato growers will be
looking to the opportunity Brexit
presents to replace potatoes
imported from within the EU with
British grown product.
“However, labour shortages and
risk associated with a mishandled
‘lift and shift’ of EU crop protection
rules into UK law, could deny us
access to activities and trade. But
if it heralds the start of a move to a
new science based, risk based
regime then we will all benefit.”
The Brexit debate and a session
focussed on learning from other
major potato producing nations
form part of a series of seminars
focussed on how the potato
industry can remain competitive.
Rufus Pilgrim, Commercial
Director at potato supplier R S
Cockrills, recently completed a
Nuffield Scholarship and study
tour of major potato producing
nations. Speaking ahead of his
contribution to AHDB
Potatoes ‘Lessons
from Global
Producers’
seminar he
said:
14 | Farming Monthly | November 2017
“We have much to be positive
about in our industry; having the
climate, marketplace, resources,
knowledge but few of the
environmental, political and social
challenges that affect other potato
producing regions.
”While we may celebrate this,
we cannot rely on ‘GB only’
policies to maintain our industry”
There will be 11 seminars held
in total at the two-day event, which
will see over 6,000 potato
professionals through its doors.
Rob Clayton said: “Along with
our review of competitiveness we
will consider how our customers
are changing, be they consumers
at the supermarket or the nation
states that buy British seed
potatoes through our existing EU
trade agreements. We will call on
researchers to take the stage with
growers as we consider
productivity. And our team will be
on hand to discuss market
volatility, as we continue to lead
the debate and engender
discussion on the key issues
that affect us all.”
The full programme can
be viewed at
bp2017.co.uk
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk