UK: Teamwork secures new overseas market for seed potatoes
Liaison with this new, Far-Eastern market has been on-going for some time. Robert Burns, head of seed and export for Potato Council and Dr Triona Davey, Plant Health Liaison for SASA (Scottish Government) have been communicating with Vietnamese officials for many months, advising and informing on specific phytosanitary conditions and the production of seed from GB, and emphasising the benefits that GB seed potatoes can offer the Vietnamese growers and supply chain.
Mr Burns said, “The outward mission by Potato Council and SASA to Hanoi earlier this year led to the finalisation recently of the importation agreement between GB and Vietnam – which is now signed - and we are absolutely delighted that this important new market is now accessible for GB’s seed growers and exporters.”
Moreover, the Vietnamese officials are due to visit Potato Council and SASA in September to observe GB seed production at first hand, and will meet Potato Council and SASA plant health teams, visit micro-propagation laboratories and mini-tuber production facilities and view this season’s seed crops in-situ.
Until recently, potatoes ranked below production of other Vietnamese staples such as rice, maize and sweet potato with an average yield of potato crops in Vietnam of around 12 tons/ha. Until now, a lack of quality seed is thought to have been one significant barrier to production efficiency and profitability in Vietnamese potato production.
Mr Burns commented on demand for the potato in Vietnam, saying, “Middle class consumer numbers are rising in Far-Eastern markets and they are demanding potatoes in their diet. The GB seed industry is now able to help Vietnamese growers increase the yields and quality of their potato crop by providing high-health, high quality seed from Britain – already grown successfully in over 50 countries.”
You will be able to meet Potato Council’s and SASA’s seed potato teams, together with GB’s leading seed breeders, exporters and crop researchers, at the forthcoming Potato Europe event, 11-12 September, Emmeloord, The Netherlands. www.potato.org.uk/events and www.potatoeurope.com for more information.