Potato Review

NEWS Europatat: “Break the deadlock” EUROPEAN Potato Trade Association, Europatat, is calling on EU and UK policy makers to reach an agreement on the resumption in the bilateral trade of seed potatoes. The organisation, comprising national associations and individual companies involved in the trade of seed, ware and early potatoes throughout Europe, says it’s imperative this is done soon to avoid divergence emerging between the EU and UK markets, further hindering opportunities for “mutually beneficial bilateral trade”. Europatat used a public hearing called by the European Parliament’s AGRI committee on “the impact of Brexit on European agricultural markets” to highlight the impact of the no-agreement on trade recently. Brexit has been having a significant impact on trade in seed potatoes between the European Union (EU) and Great Britain (GB) since January 1st 2021, when the EU stopped allowing seed potato imports from the UK as agreement hadn’t been reached on regulations. The UK Government retaliated by introducing a similar restriction six month later on July 1st. For many years, EU growers have relied on imports of seed potatoes from the UK. Likewise, many EU seed potato producers had annually exported significant quantities of seed potatoes to GB. The EU supplied GB annually with between 25,000 - 30,000 tonnes, and the same quantity was traded in the opposite direction. In a recent statement, Europatat said: “Many EU growers prefer to use GB seed potatoes for various reasons, the main one being high grade Scottish seed potatoes, that are classified at basic grade, are frequently used for multiplication as input seed into the EU seed supply chain because of lower levels of diseases and viruses. Scottish seed potatoes were also supplied to major EU seed producing areas for further multiplication to be supplied back to GB as seed for ware production.” Ireland’s potato industry has relied heavily on importing seed potatoes from GB. It is estimated that eachyear GB supplied 10,000- 12,000 tonnes of seed potatoes to Ireland (75% to Ireland and 25% to Northern Ireland). Most of the varieties supplied are not in seed multiplication schemes elsewhere in the EU. As a result, the lack of seed potatoes from GB is especially having an impact on growers in Northern Ireland. January 2022 Editor Stephanie Cornwall 01778 395055 stephanie.cornwall@warnersgroup.co.uk Multimedai Sales Executive eresa Geeson 01778 392046 theresag@warnersgroup.co.uk Publisher Juliet Loiselle 01778 391067 Julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Design Amanda Clare Subscriptions 01778 392464 subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions & advertising copy Potato Review, Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH www.potatoreview.com ISSN 0961–7655 © AREMI Ltd 2018 e publishers are not necessarily in agreement with opinions expressed in this journal. No responsibility can be accepted for statements made by contributors or advertisers. POTATO REVIEW is published by: Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH Printed by Warners (Midlands) Plc Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111 Varitron model pictured contains additional options not included in the base price. As the coveted NPIA Machinery Award 2021 proves, the GRIMME VARITRON 470 Platinum is hard to beat. Fuel efficient engines; gentle efficient cleaning; fast unloading (in just 40 seconds!) with a patented Non-Stop reversible bunker; premium cab and operator friendly, innovative control systems. With local parts and service packages from GRIMME, your harvest cost per acre could be hard to beat too! GRIMME UK Ltd. To find out more visit www.grimme.co.uk or talk to your local GRIMME Partner. CAB • ErgoDrive Control Centre – superior operator control and productivity • Clean Control – saves operator settings for specific conditions • 2 Terminals + 2 Monitors and Visual Protect with on-board cameras monitor all machine and crop-critical functions • Comfort cab option includes fridge, heated seat and side windscreen wipers DIGGING • Terra Depth Control reduces crop damage and enhances flow • Auto pilot reduces operator fatigue myGRIMME • Customer portal includes map view; machine overview, “geofencing” and a link to the data exchange platform agrirouter 2021 WINNER 2021 NPIALogo_Winner.indd 1 25/11/2021 14:20 it l i t t i i l t i l i t i . r ri tr l tr ri r r t r tr l r it l tr l r t r f r i i r i l it r i l r t t it - r r it r l i r - ri l f f rt i l fri , t t i i r i r I I r t tr l r r t il t r r t r f I t r rt l i l i ; i r i , f i li t t t l r rir t r NPIALogo_Winer.ind 1 25/1/2021 14:20