SPot Farm Blog
highlights
Page 3
Seed Industry Event
is coming
Page 5
Updated training
modules now available
Page 6
TUBER
TALK
Autumn
2016
Keep in touch
potatoes.publications
@ahdb.org.uk
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk
@AHDB_Potatoes
024 7669 2051
Issue #05
GB Potatoes:
What might
Brexit mean for
our labour force?
Look out for
detailed potato
import /export
analysis and
potential trade
tarrifs – available
13 October
AHDB is rapidly expanding its library of Brexit Horizon publications to
inform levy-payers of the impact and the potential opportunities following
the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
The latest edition looks at the
impact on the agricultural labour
force, notably, the industry’s current
reliance on labour from overseas.
labour shortages and become
less competitive in the global
marketplace.
“If there are restrictions in the
availability of labour, the costs of
employing staff are likely to rise,
meaning investment in more capitalintensive production systems such
as automation may become a more
attractive option for growers and
producers,” says David Swales.
“Much greater substitution of capital
for labour may be a consequence
of a reduced supply of labour. But
in the current climate of uncertainty,
businesses may need significant
signals from Government to help
stimulate them to invest the capital
required to offset any loss of
affordable labour,” added Mr Swales.
There would be a risk in the
short term, however, that
businesses could be exposed by
“We could see both the current
structure of the industry and the
nature of UK agricultural production
change significantly as a result.”
“I’d encourage you to get in touch
with my team if you have feedback
on our publications or have any
burning questions that you’d like
to discuss further,” said David.
David Swales
AHDB’s Head of
Strategic Insight
David.Swales@
ahdb.org.uk
024 7647 8854

Make sure you read
the growing suite of
AHDB Horizon
publications available:
ahdb.org.uk/Brexit
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
New honour launched on
20th anniversary of Potato
Industry Award
2016 marks the twentieth
anniversary of the highly
coveted Potato Industry Award,
to be presented to a new winner
at the ever-popular AHDB Seed
Industry Event dinner, Fife,
Scotland on 3 November.
A new category
A new, second category of honour
has been announced, two decades
on from the launch of the original
Award, to partner the long-standing
accolade for high achievers.
The ‘AHDB Above and Beyond
Award’ will recognise up-andcoming, passionate and dedicated
individuals in GB’s potato industry.
“Many unsung potato heroes go
‘above and beyond’ in their role
to make a positive impact on the
potato supply chain and we feel the
industry should have the opportunity
to recognise their efforts,” said
AHDB Potatoes Sector Strategy
Director, Dr Rob Clayton.
“We are calling for nominations of
individuals such as store managers,
field persons and agronomists who
support businesses and research
establishments. Those people
deeply involved in making things
work ‘on the ground’.”
Recipients can be at any stage of
their career, but must have made a
difference to the GB potato industry.
Looking back to 1997, the launch
year of the original Potato Industry
Award, Jim Godfrey OBE said, “The
purpose of the award was simple, to
sing the praises of and showcase the
best of the British Potato Industry.
“Our enthusiastic, energetic and
innovative sector is full of great
people and it’s vital they receive
recognition from their peers. This
is just as important 20 years on.”
The first ever recipient of the award
was Charles (Mac) McCarthy,
McCain Foods, then Chairman and
a pioneer of the British frozen chip
industry.
AHDB Potatoes continues to
support the industry’s leaders in
marketing, innovation, research and
development, by presenting this
award each year and recognising
the dedication and entrepreneurial
spirit of those who have made
outstanding contributions to the
overall GB potato industry.
British Potato Industry
Award Hall of Fame
Many unsung potato
heroes go ‘above and
beyond’ in their role
to make a positive
impact.
Rob Clayton
AHDB Potatoes
Sector Strategy Director

Last call for
nominations
Nominations are simple to
submit online at
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/awards
The closing date for
submissions is 10 October 2016.
‘A’ Lister Award recipients include leading
variety breeders, specialists in research and
development and knowledge transfer, storage
engineers, processing specialists, machinery
designers and journalists.
1997
Charles McCarthy
1998
Frank Pirie
1999
Prof John Hillman
2000
Rod Herbert
2001
The late Richard
Watson Jones
2002
Bob Meredith
2003
Richard Harris
2004
Eric Allen
2005
Harry Duncan
2006
Alan Owens
2007
David Walker OBE
2008
Jim Godfrey
(Special Award)
2008
Dr Stuart Wale
2009
Michael Higgins
?
2010
Dr John Bradshaw
2
2011
Tony Bambridge
2012
Dr Mike Storey
2013
Dr Jack Dunnett
2014
George Mackay
2015
Nick Vermont
2016
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
Linking seed and
supply chain
This November’s Seed Industry Event
is the perfect opportunity for seed
and ware growers and supply chain
colleagues to get together, discuss
current issues and learn more about
the challenges and opportunities
that exist from seed production right
along the potato supply chain.
• 3 November 2016
• Industry dinner
• Fairmount St Andrews Hotel
Why you should be there
• Invaluable chance to hear expert insights
on key challenges facing the industry
• Brexit plenary panel with Tony Bambridge,
Peter Hardwick and Cedric Porter
• Workshop to develop a pan-industry
approach to Blackleg with Ian Toth, Gerry
Saddler and AHDB experts
• All the latest news, views and advice –
from research to marketing
• Opportunity to catch up with suppliers,
customers and colleagues – and to make
valuable new contacts
• Conference, workshops and traditional
dinner, all in one fast-moving day – the
dedicated event for Britain’s seed potato
and supply chain industries.
Talks include intense scrutiny of GB’s seedgrowing area and the changing commercial
landscape, with high-relevance issues being
examined such as Brexit opportunities and
threats, inputs and costs in competitor markets,
the retail environment, consumer insight and an
update on customer requirements from a leading
overseas seed market.
In-depth workshop sessions include a close look
at Blackleg, and the value of funded research and
examine what more the industry could be doing
to tackle this challenging disease.
Rob Clayton remarks, “The Seed Industry Event
has evolved into a major conference for the whole
of the GB potato industry. Moreover, it is also
recognised as a fantastic networking and social
gathering for industry visitors from as far afield as
Cornwall and Cambridge”
“We are excited that the 2016 event has moved
to a new home in St Andrews. The Fairmont St
Andrews hotel is an ideal conference venue but
also will provide delegates with a real sense of
luxury and Scottish hospitality in this beautiful
corner of north-east Fife.”
seedevent.co.uk
3
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
Household cooks
seek digital inspiration
New CHAP storage
facility at SBCSR
Aspiring cooks are increasingly turning online for recipe
inspiration, according to a new AHDB survey.
Food websites have overtaken cookery
books as the main place to find meal ideas
for the first time, favoured by 41 per cent
of people.
The popularity of food blogs is also on the
rise, particularly with the younger generation,
where they are a key source of information
for 14 per cent of 18 – 24 year olds.
The AHDB Consumer Tracker, run
with YouGov, surveyed 4,000 people
nationwide about their food habits
and attitudes.
• Six per cent claim to cook from scratch
several times a week
• Forty per cent wanted to increase their
repertoire of recipes
However, AHDB analysis suggests
consumers’ foodie aspirations may
outstrip reality, with sales data showing
a 4.1 per cent year-on-year growth in the
convenience food market and an 11 per
cent growth in pre-prepared vegetables.
“But hectic lifestyles mean that
convenience is king and with retailers
investing in ranges designed to slash time
spent in the kitchen, people’s view of what
constitutes home-cooking is changing.
“There is an opportunity here for the
industry to tap into the consumer psyche
and position products as meal solutions
rather than just ingredients. There is also a
lesson for us at AHDB and others involved
in marketing activity to refine
and target our online promotional activity.”
The Consumer Tracker is part of AHDB’s
work to support growth in levy paying
industries, by working with retailers and
the foodservice industry to promote
agricultural products to the public. Sign
up for a new quarterly e-newsletter by
emailing [email protected]
Contact Steven Evans,
Senior Consumer
Insight Analyst on
024 7647 8843 or
email Steven.Evans@
ahdb.org.uk
AHDB senior analyst Steven Evans said:
“People have a clear desire to cook meals
from scratch and try new things and naturally
they are turning to the web for ideas.
More than a
Bit on the Side
The third wave of advertising for the More
than a Bit on the Side campaign launched
at the end of September. Look out for
the billboards at London Underground
stations, as well as large digital screens in
high footfall locations at peak times, such
as Euston and Marylebone stations.
This new approach is supported by
traditional print magazine advertising in key
women’s titles, digital banner advertising
alongside paid-for Google advertising,
driving traffic through to the lovepotatoes
website, which is proven to very successful.
You & me. On the kitchen table
in 20 minutes
A new YouTube creative, will show our
potato character, Bud, on a tour of
different scenes, in different countries,
before finally arriving in the kitchen. Bud
will be demonstrating global culinary
trends every month as part of a ‘travel
guide’, which will have him visiting a
different country every month.
 Campaign update:
July saw a record month for
website visits, with just over
250,000 hits
to the site
4
Facebook page, which has
surpassed the 100,000 follower
mark and generates engaging
and relevant content on recipes,
and Twitter, which continues
to encourage good levels of
engagement with consumers.
The Innovation Centre for Crop Health and Protection
(CHAP), under the government’s Agri-Tech strategy,
has delivered new facilities at Sutton Bridge.
Construction and fit out of new experimental stores at Sutton
Bridge Crop Storage Research features ten 6-tonne capacity
‘state of art’ storage rooms built for the (CHAP) Innovation
Centre of which AHDB is a consortium member.
Alongside AHDB, CHAP’s consortium partners include
Bayer CropScience, Farmcare, Frontier Agriculture, Dow
AgroSciences, Tesco, Stockbridge Technology and Unilever,
CABI, Cranfield University, FERA Science Ltd, Newcastle
University, ADAS, The Met Office, Warwick University,
Campden BRI and Rothamsted Research.

More information on CHAP’s activities are available at
chap-solutions.co.uk/
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
Variety key to
chip shop success
Fish and chip shops need to offer more choice to help
reverse 30 years of industry decline.
Findings from a new study show health-conscious
customers want to know nutritional information about
their takeaway and many would welcome a greater
variety of portion sizes.
Three-quarters of customers also said they would like to see
their fish and chips cooked in a way that lowered the saturated
fat content of the finished dish.
The approach would also have the
benefits of cutting food waste and
potentially improving margins.
Food industry levy bodies AHDB Potatoes and Seafish
commissioned the research to help chip shop operators
identify ways to improve their competitiveness and profitability.
The initiative is supported by a new website, Enjoy Fish & Chips
(www.enjoyfishandchips.co.uk), which provides fish and chip
businesses with advice, tools and best practice to help improve
their offering – and their bottom line.
AHDB’s Rob Clayton said:
“This research is the most
comprehensive piece
of insight into the fish
and chip industry ever
produced. It is full of
valuable information
to help businesses
make simple changes,
which will make a
huge difference to
their offerings to
customers.
Findings
• The largest variation was ‘standard’ or ‘regular’
chip portion size
• Fifteen per cent of customers liked the size of a
portion because they buy to share.
AHDB and Seafish are encouraging chip shop managers
to use their online Perfect Serve tool to create a range of
standard portion sizes, offering customers predictability
when choosing their meals and meaning nutritional content
can be calculated and displayed easily.
Fish and chips –
UK’s most popular fast food
10,500
600
Around
12%
of all potatoes grown in
Britain are destined for
chip shop fryers
hips
.co.u
k
Biggest ever research programme
on the nation’s chippies
1,500
independent shops
andc
“We know potatoes are
recognised as an important part of
a healthy balanced diet and this can include
fish and chips. This project will help to reinforce these
messages with shops and pass on their success
stories to their customers.”
382m
portions eaten
every year
enjo
yfish
peoples views across
Britain on buying
preferences and habits
mystery shopper visits
looking into portion sizes
400
Over
different portions of fish
and chips were analysed
for nutritional composition,
based on criteria including
size, cooking temperature
and cooking time
5
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
Visit the Strategic Potato Farm Blog
Strategic Potato (SPot)
Farm programme is all about
demonstrating best practice
and showing ‘Real value from
making change.’
Have you been following the
growing season at our 3 sites?
Catch up on the activity throughout
the year at: strategicpotatofarm.
blogspot.co.uk
Catch up on some of our
recent posts…
The whole system approach to
chitting maincrop at SPot Farm West
James Daw and Matt Smallwood
The decision to compare
chitted versus unchitted seed,
in Markies and Pentland Dell,
developed from a conversation
between host farmer James
Daw and Matt Smallwood of
McCain Foods last year.
James and Matt saw chitting as
offering some insurance against
bad weather.
If spring is late or autumn early,
especially in relatively clayey soils,
late maturing varieties are likely to
be harvested in difficult conditions.
All varieties, of course, have their
own characteristics and respond
in different ways to production
processes.
For these varieties, some
considerations in particular are
that Markies require a long bulking
period (>120 days), followed by skin
setting, and Pentland Dell can’t
be planted into cold seed beds to
protect against little potato disorder.
So marketable yields in both these
varieties may potentially be reduced
6
Sam Daw shows off his modular trays
by a relatively short growing season,
making them well-suited to test
potential benefits from chitting.
James Daw was also hoping to
increase total yield beyond what
could be achieved from unchitted
seed even if the season proved to
be a good long one.
Our understanding of chitting
The principles of chitting have been
understood for many years.
By starting growth pre-planting the
crop emerges sooner. The effect of
even a few days gain in early canopy
is magnified by the long days at
which it takes place.
In this case there was an 8-10 day
reduction in time to 50% emergence
due to chitting.
The trial field at Thorpe Constantine
does not suffer from free living
nematode or Rhizoctonia damage,
but where these problems are
expected, then reduction in time
to emergence from chitted seed
reduces the most susceptible periods.
Matt Stalham with Next Generation
Chitting as a whole system
To be viable, chitting ought to
be fully mechanised. Sam Daw
designed and made new modular
trays for this purpose.
Each set of four has the same
footprint as a one tonne box, and
takes half a tonne of seed. Sets can
be stacked six high.
The four trays can be locked
together and have removable sides
for when the seed is being tipped
into the planter.
Setting the right conditions
for chitting
At the Daws’ farm, part of a grain
store was sectioned off with
polythene for the chitting process,
lit with fluorescent tubes and
LED lights to provide the 10W/
m2 required. LED lights have the
advantage of giving off little heat
and strings of them were attached
to some of the trays, to illuminate
without overheating the seed below.
The target for the chitting period
was to provide 200-250 day
degrees, since excessively early
chitting could lead to premature
senescence, so the trays were set
up at the end of February.
Temperatures were 10-12°C in
the shed.
The seed was removed from the
shed and left outside to harden off
in natural light from mid April, before
planting on 28 April.
Such hardening off is essential
to avoid bruising or breaking the
shoots, which were approximately
10mm at planting.
Other requirements for the system
are a gentle transfer mechanism into
the planter, and use of belt planters.
Real Results
By 13 July the yield from chitted
seed was 7-8t/ha greater than that
from unchitted.
Further information, including
treatment effect on size fraction,
marketable yield, dry matter and
processing quality, will be available
at the ‘results day’ on 5 January.
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
Over 12,500 blog visitors and
an international audience
United States:
United Kingdom
Russia
France
Germany
Ukraine
Brazil
Ireland
India
Spain
41%
29%
12%
5%
4%
3%
2%
2%
1%
1%
Potato, cereal and oilseed
Should potato crops agronomy developments on
be hardened up
show at AHDB conference
so they root deeper? AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds and AHDB Potatoes are
During August, James Daw welcomed the AHDB ‘Next
Generation’ group who were able to ask, Mark Stalham
of NIAB CUF, their burning questions on irrigation:
“Should potato crops be subjected to some level
of drought early in life, to make them use water
more efficiently?”
“If a crop is too well irrigated will rooting be weak
and shallow?”
As a scientist, Mark tends to answer questions in detail, giving
the evidence for both sides of an argument. This time the two
sides weren’t equal and the answer was clear.
‘The best way to stimulate root growth is to irrigate the crop,
provided there’s no waterlogging.’
Toughen up
scientists,
not potatoes
Mark Stalham referred to an experiment he had
conducted on Cara, where the maximum root length
came from the fully irrigated crop.
The length was 15km of root per square metre of soil,
compared with 7km per square metre for the fully droughted
crop (or one which was droughted until the end of tuber
initiation then irrigated).
The experiment took place in 1992, when Mark was in the
‘Next Generation’ category. Measuring those lengths probably
hardened him as a young researcher.
Though, as is often the case, there is some truth in the commonly
held idea that the plant should be made to work for its water.
uniting to showcase evidence-based developments
in agronomy this December.
Initially a single day focused on cereals
and oilseeds, a second potato-focused
day has now been added to the AHDB
Agronomists’ Conference this year to bring
extra rotational breadth to the event.
Tim Isaac, Head of Knowledge Exchange
for AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds, said: “2016
sees the Agronomists’ Conference enter its
tenth year.
“Since its introduction, the event has
matured to become a staple in the
agronomists’ calendar.
“Every aspect of the event is designed to
make people think a little differently about
agronomy and that has been its key to
success.
“We are delighted to work with AHDB
Potatoes, to bring the latest technical
developments to agronomists operating
across the UK.”
‘Cross-sector’ activity
The expansion of the event to two days
occurred following feedback given at the
2015 event. Almost half of the respondents
said they would be interested in joint events
with AHDB Potatoes.
Phil Burgess, Head of Knowledge
Exchange for AHDB Potatoes, said: “The
Agronomists’ Conference is an established
event that delivers information on the latest
technical efficiencies.
The Agronomists’
Conference is an
established event that
delivers information
on the latest technical
efficiencies
Phil Burgess
Head of Knowledge Exchange
for AHDB Potatoes
Save the dates
In Mark’s experiments, rooting depth was increased 10-15cm
by drought but the deeper rooting was compensated by root
death in the surface layers.
The AHDB Agronomists’ Conference will
take place on Wednesday 7 and Thursday
8 December at Peterborough Arena.
So while droughted plants do change their metabolism to use
water more efficiently, both increased rooting depth and altered
metabolism only take place when the plant is under significant
drought stress and yield has been severely damaged.
The first day is dedicated to AHDB
Potatoes and the second day to AHDB
Cereals & Oilseeds.
“We recognise the value of agronomists in
translating highly technical information and
repackaging it on behalf of their grower
clients and see it in our strategic interests
to work more closely with them.
“The inclusion of a second day focused
on potatoes will be of tremendous benefit
to all – not only to those who advise on
potatoes – as there is so much to be
learned from potato production systems
and their place in the rotation.”
For the potatoes, the event will replace
the annual Winter Forum in the East,
enhancing the offering previously
provided by that single day.

To book a place or for further event
information:
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/agconf
7
TUBER TALK
Autumn 2016
Keeping the GB
potato industry safe
AHDB has updated its suite of training
modules, which are available NOW at:
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/safe-potato-operations
NEW Module –
Safe Potato Induction
Top row: Doreen Anderson, Rob Burns, George Lyon, Alistair Melrose
Bottom row: Rebecca Geraghty, Sarah Hunter-Argyle, Margaret Skinner.
Welcome to Sarah
AHDB’s work in Scotland is being
boosted with the appointment
of Sarah Hunter-Argyle as
the new dedicated Scottish
communications manager.
review in Scotland said: “Levy
payers made it very clear that they
wanted to know much more about
AHDB activities and how they could
make use of them.
Sarah joins AHDB from a
communications role at SRUC.
Based in AHDB’s Edinburgh office,
she will be working with the sevenstrong team in Scotland across the
organisation’s dairy, cereals, potato
and horticulture sectors.
“We have a wealth of knowledge
and expertise from projects like
our SPot and Monitor Farms,
seed export programmes and the
Scottish Dairy Hub and we need
to ensure we communicate them
effectively to Scottish farmers.
Her appointment comes as a result
of the feedback from AHDB’s series
of levy payer meetings across
Scotland earlier this year, where
farmers and growers called for
better communication with them
and the wider industry about how
they can benefit from the work we
do on their behalf.
Sarah’s role is to ensure that
Scottish farmers are aware of the
expertise and knowledge we have
developed to help them make a
success of their businesses.
George Lyon, AHDB’s Independent
Board member who led the activity
She said: “There’s some fantastic
AHDB work going on in Scotland,
and I’m looking forward to working
with the team to promote our
activities and get more levy
payers involved.”
Diary dates
3 November 2016
Seed Industry Event, Fife, Scotland
7-8 December 2016
AHDB Agronomists Conference, Peterborough
5 January 2016
Spot Farm West results, Staffordshire area
11 January 2017
SPot Farm East results, Thetford area
19 January 2017
Welsh Potato day, Pembrokeshire
26 January,
Winter Forum, Harper Adams, Shropshire
8-10 February 2017
Fruit Logistica 2017 – Berlin
Event details may change – keep checking
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/events for the latest details.
Alastair Mitchell, an Inspector with
HSE’s agriculture safety team says,
“Using the Safe Potato Operations
online training modules contributes
towards meeting employers legal
duty to ensure they provide their staff
with information, instruction and
training so they can work safely and
to help ensure that risks are properly
managed in the workplace.”
• Highlights basic H&S skills
and risks
• For permanent or casual staff
• The minimum training all
staff should receive
• Assists you meet you training
obligations.
All modules feature sub-titles in multiple languages:
Bulgarian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Polish
Portuguese
 Protecting your team – Industry numbers
29
reported fatal injuries
resulting from work
activities in agriculture
from April 2015 to
March 2016
215
fatalities from work
activities in agriculture
over the last 6 years
Watch this
space!
2017
–
2019
The AHDB Potatoes 2017-19 strategy
will be out for consultation at the start
of November at: www.ahdb.org.uk
8