Summer 2017

Tuber

“Looking for

fat-free & easy?

You just got lucky.”

A BIT ON THE SIDEMORE THANPOTATOESPotatoes are fat-free & easy. For this Sensational

Summer Salad recipe and lots of healthy, quick, midweek meal ideas: lovepotatoes.co.uk

High hopes for British seed potatoes in Kenya Page 2

Potatoes still popular at the dinner table Page 4

Farmbench: tackling the challenges ahead Page 6

‘Productivity through coordinated research’Fast forward to PiP 2017 Page 8

TALKYOUR QUARTERLY AHDB POTATOES UPDATE

High hopes for British seed potatoes in Kenya

Sarah Hunter-Argyle, AHDB Senior Marcomms Manager

Official potato trial seed sent to Kenya has passed initial lab tests and is now growing well in three locations. AHDB and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) have been working together to open the Kenyan market to GB seed with a bilateral agreement signed by the Scottish and Kenyan governments late last year. Since then, there has been a significant amount of work behind the scenes to transport, test and plant seed on Kenyan farms. AHDB’s Head of Crops Export Market Development, Rob Burns, said: “Before commercial growers can access the market trial seed needs to be tested and grown over two seasons in at least three geographical locations in Kenya.

Fortunately in Kenya there are two growing seasons annually so we hope to reach the end of this process and open up the market fully, by early 2018.”A total of ten varieties have been sent for trialling, four free varieties - Atlantic, Cara, Hermes and Russet Burbank – and six commercial varieties provided by the James Hutton Institute. The varieties selected are processing varieties which are expected to thrive in hot, dry conditions. Most farmers in Kenya (95%) use poor quality home saved seed, which yield as little as ten tonnes of potatoes per hectare. The GB seed currently being trialed will not only be healthier but should produce 40–50 tonnes of potatoes per hectare.

SASA’s Export Liaison Officer, Jackie Gibson, said so far the GB seed planted in Kenya is doing very well. She says: “We sent more than 1,200 tubers per variety, 400 of which underwent laboratory testing for soft rots; they passed with flying colours. The Syngenta Foundation have been a great partner, helping us identify farms to work with and 400 tubers per variety were planted on three farms in late April/early May. The final 400 are in cold storage and will be planted out in the second season in October.“The good news is that the crops are looking really well, we have full emergence on two sites. The third is a little behind due to very dry weather, however drip irrigation has now been installed and we are confident it will soon catch up.

Things are going really well so far, the government officials in Kenya have been great to work with and both sides are keen to see commercial seed approved for import. We’re confident this is the beginning of a strong export partnership.

“

”Once again AHDB’s

Exports team will be hosting a stand at Potato Europe, the annual international showcase for the potato sector. The

team will be joined by a number of GB

exporters at the event, all keen to use the opportunity to build networks, create new business, and support the reputation of the British potato industry.

Rob Burns, pictured, Head of Crops Export Market Development said: “British seed potatoes are rightly renowned across the world. Not only is it high health and high quality, it is also diverse, we have a great range of varieties which thrive in a range of conditions, be it damper cooler climates such as the UK, or warm dry environments such as those found in African countries. At Potato Europe we have the opportunity to grow this vital British industry further.”Britain currently exports seed potatoes to more than 30 countries worldwide and

AHDB is currently working on plans to both develop new markets and increase volumes currently going in to existing markets. Rob said: “While we have always prioritised opening doors for our exporters, we are now doing more to support them to step through those doors. Potato Europe gives us, and our exporters, the opportunity to strengthen those international links.” There will be number of co-exhibitors sharing AHDB’s stand, including

‘Health, quality and variety’ of British seed on show at Potato Europe 2017

2

. Nominations open for British potato industry awards

Stuart Baxter, AHDB Marcomms Executive

Nominations for both awards are simple and can be submitted via the AHDB Potatoes website potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/awards

The closing date for submissions is Monday 16 October 2017. For further information call Margaret Skinner, AHDB Potatoes, on 0131 297 7460.

Caithness Potatoes, Cullen Allen and Cygnet, Greenvale AP, James Hutton Institute (JHI) and SASA. For Alasdair MacLennan, from Cygnet PEP, Potato Europe is the ideal place to connect with current and potential clients.He said: “Potato Europe is the first big industry event after harvest and as breeders it offers us the chance to take samples of new varieties, as well as existing varieties and have informed discussions with clients about quality and yield, getting a better feel for likely demand.”

Of course there is more to the potato sector than seed and Potato Europe also offers information and demonstration in a host of other areas including; tractors, vehicles and other equipment (ie irrigation, conveyor, harvesting and crop processing); crop protection; packaging and processing; fertilisers, biotechnology and precision farming.

‘Health, quality and variety’ of British seed on show at Potato Europe 2017

2016’s winner Jim Cruickshank receives the Potato Industry Award form AHDB’s Rob Clayton

Potato Europe is held in Emmelord, the Netherlands

13–14 September 2017

Potato Europe is not just about buying and selling, it’s also very much about keeping up-to-date with a rapidly changing industry and making the most of the innovative technologies and products on the market.

This is your chance to put those names forward and show your appreciation.

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Nominations for the coveted British Potato Industry Award and AHDB Above and Beyond Award are now open.AHDB Potatoes Chair, Sophie Churchill OBE, opened nominations in June by praising the passionate and dedicated individuals in the sector.She said: “In my first months as Chair of AHDB Potatoes I have been struck by the skill and enthusiasm of those in our industry, growers and everyone in the supply and processing chain, to ensure we have a quality product meeting future market needs. The potato sector is a leader in UK agriculture.”

These awards will form part of the prestigious BP2017, the biennial industry awards held in Harrogate, Yorkshire. This year the event will be held on 22–23 November – and awards will be presented by Sophie Churchill at a drinks reception on the evening of Wednesday 22 November on the AHDB stand.

British Potato Industry Award This award is in recognition of those who have contributed significant service to the industry over a considerable period of time. Previous British Potato Industry Award recipients include leading variety breeders, specialists in research development and knowledge transfer, storage engineers, processing specialists, machinery designers and journalists

Above and Beyond The AHDB Above and Beyond award is presented to a break-out performer or to an individual who has made a significant achievement over the last five years. Sophie Churchill explains: ‘There are many unsung heroes across the industry, and this award is designed to give those people the recognition they deserve. It could be the way they have supported the wider sector, or encouraged other individuals in their career and knowledge.

It could be sharing their knowledge on soil and crop health, even if they don’t have to do as part of their day-to-day business. It could be dedication to finding new markets and products.“We are looking for nominations for people across the industry – the many people who work tirelessly to make things work ‘on the ground’ - and for the future.”

Potatoes still popular on the dinner table

12.0

10.0

8.0

TotalBread

FreshPotatoes

FrozenPotato

Products

TotalPasta

TotalRice

AmbientNoodles

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2.0

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52 w/e 26 Feb 2017

2016 2017

Source: AHDB/Kantar Worldpanel Usage, In-home/carried out consumption

Emily Beardshaw, AHDB Consumer Insight Analyst

4

More information about GB potato consumption can be found on the AHDB Potatoes website.

AHDB will continue to train industry leaders of the future

AHDB will open recruitment at BP2017 in November for round three of the Next Generation programme, which will start in April 2018. The Next Generation Programme serves to develop the future leaders of the GB potato industry through exposure to the whole supply chain.Simon Leaver, of Fylde Fresh and Fabulous, was a member of the inaugural programme in 2015 and has

subsequently been promoted to CEO of the growing business. He said: “This programme puts you out there. It gives you the opportunity to network but also to build your own skills up. And the more you put into this process, the more value you’ll get in return too.”Those interested in applying should visit the AHDB Potatoes stand at BP2017, to discuss the application process, which will open shortly after.

There is competition among carbohydrates for a place on the plate, but potatoes still prove popular at the dinner table. The type of food that we eat is becoming increasingly diverse and includes a variety of different carbohydrates so where do potatoes fit in? Potatoes remain a popular choice due to their perceived practicality and versatility. AHDB/YouGov’s consumer tracker results has found eight in ten consumers say they eat potatoes at least once a week. When consumers were asked to choose the three best aspects of buying fresh potatoes the statement ‘they are versatile/go with most things I eat’ was the most popular, with 65% of respondents selecting this option.

Carbohydrates At a total market level there has been a shift away from traditional meat and veg styles of meal toward dish based cuisines. This is a trend that impacts on the potato category, the increasing popularity of other cuisines such as Italian or Oriental which are often based around a different carbohydrate staple such as

pasta or rice are replacing potato based meals for some consumers.The graph below shows that despite this increasing variety of meal types, both fresh and frozen potato products are currently still the second most popular carbohydrates (by number of occasions eaten) following bread.

Evening and teatime meal occasions Like red meat, potatoes have traditionally been eaten as part of evening meal or teatime occasions and these account for 84% of the meal occasions where potatoes are eaten. Potatoes in all their forms are eaten at 39% of all evening meal occasions compared to 9% for pasta and 1% for sweet potatoes (Kantar Worldpanel Usage 52 w/e 26 Feb 2017). However, it is important to remember that potatoes are largely dependent on evening consumption.

Eating out The number of out-of-home servings of potatoes increased by 0.6% in the year ending March 17 from the previous year. This was driven by quick service restaurants (QSR) which are the largest and fastest growing out-of-home channel. Servings of chips and fries account for 75% of QSR potato servings and 14% of QSR orders include chips.

So potatoes are still popular? The consumption of potatoes is still relatively high in comparison with many other carbohydrate types. However, there are still challenges facing the potato category relating, in particular, to how healthy potatoes are considered to be by consumers as well as how frequently they are purchased. AHDB continues to monitor the production, retail and consumption landscape for potatoes.

Consumption of different carbohydrates

5

Influencing the influencers

Our consumer marketing team launched the fourth advertising burst for the successful Potatoes: More Than a Bit on the Side in July. The campaign has proved successful among its target audience since its launch in 2015. This period of activity is designed to build on that success with print and outdoor display advertisements in London added to the publications targeted throughout the campaign, supplementing the high level of presence online and through social media channels to engage with consumers where they are searching for recipe inspiration and health information.

The campaign’s target audience is women aged 25–44. It features ‘Bud the Spud’ (pictured), a potato who wears Wayfarer sunglasses, and uses light-hearted ads to reinforce the key messages that potatoes are healthy and easy to prepare. The advertising campaign is paired with advertorials in key consumer titles, which feature healthy, quick to prepare recipes where potatoes take centre stage.Year one results from the campaign (ending July 2016), collated by KANTAR WorldPanel, show that frequency of purchase of fresh potatoes by women aged 24–35 was up 2.9% for the 52 week period ending July 2016. There had also been positive shifts in attitudes towards versatility, convenience, ease of preparation, alongside increased engagement with health messages used as part of the campaign.The success with this key group was driven through activity in the following publications: BBC Good Food, Closer,

OK! Magazine, Glamour, Stylist and BBC Easy Cook. In a burst of activity planned in July these publications will form part of the campaign again. Activity is expanded to target London, including outdoor and London Underground display ads and print activity in the Evening Standard, as well as highly targeted contextual advertising through websites and social media channels.If you would like to try any of the recipes from the More Than a Bit on the Side campaign yourself, or recommended them to others, please visit www.lovepotatoes.co.uk

More Than a Bit on the Side takes centre stage

Stephen Farmer, AHDB Senior Consumer Marketing Manager

“Looking for

fat-free & easy?

You just got lucky.”

A BIT ON THE SIDEMORE THANPOTATOESPotatoes are fat-free & easy. For this Sensational

Summer Salad recipe and lots of healthy, quick, midweek meal ideas: lovepotatoes.co.uk

Our plan to create a group of prominent potato advocates Our aim is to help create a better understanding of the potato. Advocacy, which will form part of our work in this area, will allow AHDB, individual potato growers and supply chain businesses to promote positive messages on the nutrition and sustainability of potatoes to UK influencers.

Myth busting Many of the myths surrounding potatoes are ingrained in the public’s psyche. Our plan is to engage with a range of influential people, or ‘advocates’, from various groups.Advocates are people who have the power to affect the decisions of others because of their real (or perceived) authority, knowledge, position, or

relationship. As such, their influence and impact is more likely to drive behaviour change, effect policy or reinforce existing pro-potato understanding.

What next? We have completed phase one of this campaign, which involved preparing our messages and mapping those who we wish to target as influencers. We are now underway with making initial contact with the individuals and arranging kick-off meetings.By the end of the year, you should begin to see an increase in ‘good news’ in the media about potatoes both as original stories and in response to negative coverage. If you hear a politician or celebrity talking positively about potatoes, you never know, AHDB could have provided the information.

Who could be a potato advocate?We will target a range of individuals, from different sections of society. Each will be selected with a view to influencing our targeted groups of consumers. They will include:

● MPs, MSPs, AMs ● Education and health

professionals ● Non-Governmental

Organisations (NGOs) and Trade Associations

● Journalists ● Food bloggers and vloggers

@tastypotatoes

Potatoes: More Than a Bit on the Side

potatoes_morethanabitontheside

Stu Baker, AHDB Consumer Marcomms Manager

The new AHDB Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) is now available to download as app and interactive digital versions.The guide, which was launched at the Grassland & Muck event in May, offers best practice guidance on the application of mineral fertilisers, manures and slurries to crops and grassland. Getting to grips with changes now, can stand you in good stead ahead of the 2018 growing season.It is the culmination of a £98,000 project, supported by £200,000-worth of in-kind funding by industry, to review the former Fertiliser Manual (RB209), which was last updated in 2010.Its revision was overseen by the AHDB-led UK Partnership for Crop Nutrient Management and delivered by an ADAS-led consortium of experts from across the UK research community.

The updated edition is split into seven colour-coded sections, so users can cherry-pick relevant information and individual sections can be updated more easily to reflect the latest research.These are:1. Principles of nutrient management and fertiliser use2. Organic materials3. Grass and forage crops4. Arable crops5. Potatoes6. Vegetables and bulbs7. Fruits, vines and hops

What it means for potatoes Section five of the new guide works as a successor to the previous Potato Council Crop Nutrition for Potatoes guide and pools all AHDB Potatoes nutrition data.Working in conjunction with Sections 1 and 2, the two most significant changes to the new revision is the inclusion of additional varieties to potato determinacy groupings, plus the recommendation to apply sulphur where there is a risk of deficiency.

‘Up-to-date science’ George Lawrie, Kinross cereals grower and chair of the partnership’s steering group, said: “Crop nutrition is one of the key elements to optimising production in the field and growers need to use all the tools available to ensure that they manage resources, in terms of soil, applications and plant health.

“This new version of RB209 is one such tool. Its recommendations are based on the most up-to-date science and so offer clear guidance to growers on a whole range of crops from cereals to grass to ornamental bulbs.”Benefits of using the digital version over the printed copies include automatic updates and alerts, the ability to save notes, easier navigation and integrated multimedia content. With quick and easy access to videos, information and recommendations from the guide, it is practical for use in the field and will always be the latest version available – plus it’s lighter to carry and doesn’t need an internet connection once downloaded. Available on iOS, the app can be found by searching for RB209: Nutrient Management on the App Store. The guide can also be downloaded as an iBook from the AHDB website, www.ahdb.org.uk/RB209

Download the new RB209 today

Section 7 Fruit, vines and hops

Updated May 2017

Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

Section 6 Vegetables and bulbs

Updated May 2017

Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

Section 4 Arable crops

Updated May 2017

Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

1

Section 3 Grass and forage crops

Updated May 2017

Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

Section 2 Organic materials

Updated May 2017Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

NOTE: all images are only low res positionals at this stage

so will need replacing.

Section 1 Principles of nutrient management and fertiliser use

Updated May 2017Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

1

Section 5 Potatoes

Updated May 2017Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

6

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Graham Bannister as our new Knowledge Exchange Manager for the North of England.Graham has many years’ experience in the farming sector with over a decade gained in the potato industry. Recently he worked for fresh potato supplier Greenvale in a role aimed at securing quality ware potatoes from Scottish suppliers.He has now returned to his Yorkshire home and is looking forward to working with growers, agronomists and the supply chain across Northern England.

Speaking of his appointment, Graham said: “I’ve worked in agriculture all of my career, but potatoes are my passion. There is an incredible drive in the industry and to be able to work with people from across the sector in my home region is a dream come true for me.”Graham is hoping to visit people from across the region and exchange ideas as he shapes his role. He will be on the AHDB stand at BP2017, the biannual ‘seed to shopping trolley’ potato event, in Harrogate in November and is happy to visit farms and businesses.

Bannister steps up for northern potato industry

Anyone wishing to arrange a visit should contact Graham on graham.bannister@ahdb.org.uk or 07580 704673.

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Farmers add Farmbench to their toolbox as changes lie ahead

After the first day of Brexit negotiations, David

Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union,

attributed a quote to Winston Churchill: “The pessimist sees challenge in every opportunity, while the optimist sees opportunity in every challenge”.We can be certain of one thing that lies ahead; change. Whether you expect to be dealing with challenges, taking advantage of new opportunities or both, the chances are you will have some tough decisions to make over the coming years.Typically, businesses that understand their current situation are best placed to be able to make these kinds of decisions. In the potentially volatile times ahead, it will become increasingly important to know where you can make tweaks, or even wholesale changes, to remain competitive.Farmbench, a free whole-farm benchmarking program from AHDB, is designed to help you understand and compare full costs of production at both enterprise and farm level. This level of detail can help you unearth your strengths. We have assembled a team of regional officers to enable you to take advantage of this service this autumn. Your regional officer will introduce you to the business tool, which currently covers Cereals & Oilseeds, Potatoes and Beef & Lamb enterprises and will allow all farmers to enter their costs in one go. Dairy will be added to the system over the coming months.

All data added is aggregated and anonymised on the system. Nonetheless, what farmers involved in the pilot run from AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds’ monitor farms have found useful is the group discussions within their regions.Adrian Joynt is the farm manager at the Apley Estate and host of the Bridgnorth Monitor Farm. Apley is a 1,000ha mixed farm with parkland and rough grazing for 220 suckler cows. Some land is rented out for potatoes and the rest is put to combinable crops.Adrian said: “Benchmarking helps me to identify our strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes they’re not where you think they are. We’ve certainly learned a lot, especially from the discussions with the Monitor Farm benchmarking group.“For example, the first two years of cereals benchmarking we did showed us that our oilseed rape fertiliser figures were quite low. You might think that was good, but our yields weren’t as good as they could’ve been or as good as the rest of the group. This year we’ve been back and looked at our fertiliser regime and now we’re applying more nitrogen. Our average yield for oilseed rape is much further up the league table for the group this year.”Knowing the numbers can put control back in your hands. To get your farm signed up to Farmbench, contact your regional officer below.

7

Be on the SPot this August With the SPot Farm season well underway, we have seen numbers of people attend events across the country. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and we hope to see you at our results days later this year.In the meantime, we still have three opportunities for you to visit one of our SPot farms on the following dates:

Attendees will get the opportunity to see and debate a range of subjects including cover crops, potato cyst nematode management, irrigation and nitrogen use. Do not miss the opportunity to come and discuss best practice and consider how you can make positive changes at your own business with AHDB teams, agronomists and peers during the events at any of the SPot farms.

To find out more and book onto the events visit: potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/events

Jimmy Phillips, AHDB Senior Marcomms Manager

SPot Farm South West Somerset – Field Walk 1 AugustSPot Farm East Suffolk – Field Walk 3 AugustSPot Farm West Shropshire – Opn Day 17 August

West Midlands & WalesMeg Loynes07815 600240megan.loynes@ahdb.org.uk

Northern IrelandJudith Stafford07891 556623judith.stafford@ahdb.org.uk

South WestDavid Pett07813 454537david.pett@ahdb.org.uk

North & ScotlandDoreen Anderson07901 116454doreen.anderson@ahdb.org.uk

South EastEmma Nankervis07391 017763emma.nankervis@ahdb.org.uk

East Anglia & East MidlandsHolly Howsam07767 001543holly.howsam@ahdb.org.uk

Get involved

8

Potatoes in Practice 2017: Industry unites to fight against blight

This will be my first year at Potatoes in Practice (PiP), the largest field-based potato event in the UK, and I’m looking forward to what will be a great opportunity for me to develop my knowledge of this

leading edge and highly skilled sector. The investment, passion

and expertise of the industry is extremely impressive.

It’s great to see AHDB Potatoes working in collaboration with research institutes whose

science is key to the future of the sector, such as the James Hutton Institute (JHI) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), as well as industry bodies such as Agrii.AHDB’s new strategy gives renewed focus to accelerating innovation and productivity growth through coordinated research and development and knowledge exchange, which are all critical to growers, agronomists and processors. I believe interactive events such as PiP are an ideal way to communicate those findings to industry.This year’s PiP will look at a number of key issues, including blackleg, breeding, technology and market intelligence, but blight will be the overarching theme with a number of plots and seminars devoted to the topic.Scientists from the JHI will look at the impact of the pathogen both past and present, with a display showcasing ‘Diagnostic Renseq and Pathseq’: state-of-the-art targeted sequencing tools which can be used to assess material from past, current and future potato breeding programmes and uncover resistance genes.The JHI team will also be demonstrating other cutting edge technology which can be used to tackle blight, including tracking blight outbreaks (Euroblight) and the new blight alert system which provides more accurate spraying recommendations (Hutton Criteria).Of course, elsewhere in the world other scientists have also been tackling blight. I am convinced that international learning is key to the future of the industry and delighted that Professor Christine Smart from Cornell University in New York will share her experience of the pathogen. Her seminar on late blight will focus on improved detection and sampling methods. As well as new research and innovation, the industry has been embracing digital technology and I’m looking forward to learning more about some of the new apps farmers and growers can use in the field. Matt Aitkenhead will demonstrate the PotatoSize app, which was developed with Agrovista to allow farmers to size grade their crop rapidly and cheaply, while Professor Lesley Torrance will showcase Buntata, an app to help farmers identify plant disease.

AHDB Potatoes Knowledge Exchange Manager, Claire Hodge, will be there to talk growers through the Blightwatch app which (along with the website) allows allow growers and others working in the potato industry to register as Blight Scouts and record and report outbreaks.Of course for any industry, a keen understanding of market trends and forces is vital. At PiP, David Swales, AHDB Head of Strategic Insight, will outline the most up-to-date thinking on Brexit, while Market Analyst, Stewart Batchelor will focus on consumer trends, particularly the lifestyle and habits of younger consumers and how that shapes what they buy.The trial plots are a great place to talk to scientists and industry figures one to one about all sorts of potato issues, such as potential new treatments and best practice. This year SRUC is focusing on the latter, looking at the management and control of blackleg and tuber diseases. Agrii’s plot will provide demonstrations on a number of areas including herbicides, foliar nutrition, blackleg and soil sampling. Growers will be particularly interested to hear that they have dropped Linuron from their plots this year due to its imminent withdrawal from the market. They have instead focused on Praxim as a potential alternative. All in all, a huge amount to see and do and I hope also to talk to as many farmers and growers as I can on the day. If you see me, please do come and introduce yourself.

PiP 2017 will be held on Thursday 10 August at Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie, near Dundee. It is organised and hosted by the JHI in partnership with AHDB Potatoes, SRUC and Agrii and it is also supported by Potato Review. More information can be found at: www.hutton.ac.uk/pip2017

This newsletter is brought to you by AHDB

For more information contact:

AHDB Potatoes Stoneleigh Park Stoneleigh Kenilworth Warwickshire CV8 2TL T: 024 7669 2015 W: potatoes.ahdb.org.ukE: comms@ahdb.org.uk @AHDB_Potatoes

Sophie Churchill, AHDB Board Member & Sector Chair: Potatoes