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Water tops the agenda at Potato Summit
July 17, 2026
The British potato industry has the growers, expertise and sophisticated supply chain needed to increase domestic production, reduce reliance on imports and support national food security. However, delegates at the recent Potato Industry Growth Summit said that none of this will be possible without secure and reliable access to water. The summit, hosted in London… -
World leading rotations strengthen British potato industry
July 9, 2026
Robust and long potato rotations are improving the resilience of British potato production and delivering large volumes of sustainably produced food, a new report from GB Potatoes shows. “Potatoes are key to many rotations with the growers I work with,” says, agronomist Mark Taplin, at Harvest Agronomy, based in Shropshire. “Without them, and a reliance… -
Brief, brilliant and unmistakably British
June 10, 2026
The British new potato needs no introduction, no complicated recipe, and no embellishment – just butter to enjoy this brief, brilliant early summer harvest. Right now, in three iconic British ‘early potato’ sweet spots, potato lifting is underway. In the coastal fields of Ayrshire, the farmlands of Pembrokeshire, and the Sandlings of Suffolk – farmers… -
Confidence survey shows potato growers cautious about the year ahead but remain optimistic for the future
June 4, 2026
A major new survey of British potato growers reveals a sector facing significant short-term pressure, with confidence low for the coming season as growers contend with rising costs, policy uncertainty, labour challenges and threats from pests and disease. However, the survey also shows that growers retain greater confidence in the longer-term future of the industry,… -
The UK Potato Sector Under Pressure
May 27, 2026
By Scott Walker, CEO, GB Potatoes The humble potato may not make national headlines, but for Britain’s farmers and food system it has become emblematic of the pressures facing modern agriculture. For decades, the UK potato sector has been a reliable cornerstone of our food system. Affordable, versatile, and economically significant, potatoes have long been… -
Greater vigilance required for Alternaria
May 13, 2026
The Treater Group, chaired by Mark Taplin, focuses on all aspects of the crop management of potatoes with a core objective of improving standards, consulting on key matters, facilitating knowledge transfer and developing guidelines for best practice. As we now enter a foliar disease management era without mancozeb it is highly likely that we may… -
If we stop measuring, we start losing storage.
May 13, 2026
By Adrian Cunnington, Chair of the CIPC Residues Monitoring Group For several seasons now, the potato industry has been working through the legacy of CIPC. Much of the attention has, quite rightly, been on residue levels in stores that were historically treated. That focus was essential in the early years after withdrawal, but the latest… -
So, Everyone’s on Fat Jabs – or are they?
May 13, 2026
GB Potatoes CEO Scott Walker shares his thoughts on some of the new health trends. These days, it seems easier to give yourself a quick injection than hit the gym or rethink your diet. Across the food world, appetite-suppressing weight-loss drugs are making an impact and just imagine what will happen when they move from… -
Potato risk management more important than ever
April 8, 2026
Potato production is a risky business, but there are a growing number of strategies to combat the ever-growing lists of threat to the industry. GB Potatoes recently discussed risk in its Cutting the odds: Managing risk in potato production webinar. It heard from GB Potatoes chair Alex Godfrey, the CEO and President of Potatoes USA,… -
Blight may still pose a threat even after low pressure year in 2025
March 5, 2026
There is no guarantee of a repeat of last year’s very low late blight pressure season in 2026 and vigilance is vital in controlling disease, the audience at a GB Potatoes seminar at the British Potato Industry Event heard. “2025 was very unusual; it was incredibly dry with very low blight pressure which led to…
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