27 September 2021
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Outstanding contribution trophy to be awarded at NPIA event
THE British Potato Industry Award will be announced at the National Potato Industry Awards event at the Old Swan in Harrogate on November 24th.
Unlike the biannual NPI awards, which are organised by Potato Review's owner, Warners Group Publications, the BPI award is presented annually. It has recognised outstanding contribution to the potato sector since its inauguration in 1997.
It was originally administered by the British Potato Council and subsequently by the Potato sector of AHDB. Last year, Professor Ian Toth of Scotland’s Plant Heath Centre was presented with the 2020 award by AHDB Potatoes chair, Alison Levett, as part of the Potato Industry Conference 2020, via a virtual event on November 24th. He is pictured with his trophy.
Chairman of The British Potato Industry Award, Jim Godfrey, was awarded the OBE for his own services to agricultural research in Scotland in 2002 and is a member of the NIAB Board. Having previously held the position of chair of The Potato Marketing Board, he has been involved with the award since the early days.
"The British Potato Industry Award is for outstanding contribution to the potato sector, in effect a lifetime’s achievement," he said. He offered reassurance that the award would continue to be presented annually, despite the winding up of various AHDB Potatoes services.
"This award will continue as it is separate to AHDB," he stressed.