Click here for the latest update on potato blight strategies - May 2011

Potato News - This section will be updated soon

Environmental award for packer

Greenvale AP's investment in green technology at Floods Ferry in Cambridgeshire has been formally recognised. The company has been awarded the Fenland Enterprise Business Green Award. Environmental manager Jessica Cranthorne said: “We are delighted to have received this award. The environmental success we have achieved at our Cambridgeshire site has been a huge team effort.”
Greenvale’s Green15 environmental strategy, which inlcudes low energy LED lighting and an application for winde turbines, is aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 20%, reducing water use by 50% and eliminating landfill waste, all by 2015. The company is implementing a range of schemes, from improving energy efficiency to investigating renewable energy options. Currently, they have completely eliminated landfill waste at their Cambridgeshire site, as well as reducing their landfill waste to just 2% at Market Drayton in the West Midlands. Since 2009 Greenvale has also reduced water use by 23% and carbon emissions by 18% across all sites.

Winter stewardship workshops

A nationwide training initiative for growers and their staff has been launched by Syngenta to help ensure that they get the best out of Nemathorin and Amistar applications during potato planting as well as offering independent advice on maintenance, calibration and operation of equipment. There will be 15 workshops on farms across the UK from December to February, each providing hands-on training for both granular nematicide and in-furrow spray applications. Although primarily aimed at machinery operators the company believes that growers would also benefit from the experience. For dates and booking details places visit the website: www.syngenta-crop.co.uk        

Genetically 'optimised' spuds

Fortuna has a wild potato’s natural protection against late blight, according to BASF Plant Science. The German company has filed an application for approval which will cover commercial cultivation and use of the gentically modified variety as food and feed within the EU. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will assess the safety of Fortuna for humans, animals and the environment. BASF began research on blight resistant line in 2003 and Fortuna has been tested in field trials over six years. Market introduction is expected for 2014/15.

“By coupling Fortuna with modern plant protection measures, we are now in a position to offer a food which is produced with a highly sustainable method," said a company spokesman. "Consumers ultimately stand to benefit from this too.”