News on The Potato Supply Chain from United Kingdom

The Potato Council’s estimate of total potato plantings for 2009 has been updated from the provisional end-June area of 129,100 ha to a revised figure of 130,268 ha.This is very close to the final published figure for 2008 of 130,200 ha. The revised fi...

A trial of genetically modified potatoes which was vandalised last year has restarted, the Yorkshire Post can reveal.The Leeds University trial aims to grow potatoes which are resistant to a microscopic worm which stunts their growth and costs British ...

More than 80 jobs will go after potato trading company MBMG went into administration.Ian Carr and Malcolm Shierson of Grant Thornton were appointed joint administrators to the company, which has its headquarters in March, Cambridgeshire, and employs ab...

The UK government has unveiled plans to cut carbon emissions in a bid to tackle climate change.The Low Carbon Transition Plan calls on farming to reduce emissions to 6% lower than the level predicted for 2020.It suggests this should be done through an ...

Prospects for growing blight-resistant potatoes created by genetic modification have received a setback in the UK after BASF's decision to suspend research into such varieties.BASF's blight-resistant potato Fortuna was five to six years away from comme...

To tap into the growing consumer trend for nostalgic brands, United Biscuits UK , a leading UK manufacturer of snacks, biscuits and cakes, has redesigned its Brannigans range to generate extra sales. Available now, the new design draws inspiration from...

Over 200 farmers from around the country have so far taken part in the Farmers Weekly/NFU Inputs Price Monitor, giving an accurate picture of how much they are paying for a wide range of farm inputs.The Inputs Price Monitoring was launched at last mont...

Potato growers in the South of England are being warned that this weekend could see the season’s first major threat of intense potato blight pressure.Syngenta BlightCAST is predicting ‘near-miss’ Smith Periods right through Friday, Saturday and into Su...

Where would we be without the humble potato? It has a place in starters, mains, sides and even desserts. Emma White spoke to chefs and food service heads for their recipe recommendations When it comes to versatile ingredients, the potato has to be clo...

Up to 17 jobs could go following the announcement that Greenvale Foods will be shutting its potato processing plant in Wisbech by June 14.Some of the equipment and current orders will be transferred to the company's factory in Telford.A spokesman for G...

Greenvale AP’s environmentally friendly Vales Sovereign potatoes, which have a lower carbon footprint than traditional varieties, are now available to the catering sector via wholesalers. Vales Sovereigns are ideal for caterers seeking to lower their...

Scientists of the University of Dundee will lead a £3.5m investigation into potato blight, which was responsible for the Irish potato famine and problems across the globe.Blight costs the potato industry more than £3bn a year due to crop failure and th...

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) identified opportunities for energy savings and the related CO2 emission reductions related to improved temperature management in frozen food manufacturing and in cold stores.The project had support and fundin...

Main crop potato planting is well under way across the UK, with many areas nearing completion.Rob Burrow of the Potato Council says: "Despite a slow start, due to low soil temperatures in some areas, planting has gone very well and has been proble...

The technical challenges of coping with a reduced pesticide armoury were high on the agenda at a recent Potato Council Yorkshire Potato Day. If you rent land, don't saddle yourself with soil-borne threats. Techniculture's Neil Pratt told growers at the...

Labels showing a product's carbon footprint should be displayed on goods and services to help consumers tackle climate change, according to an influential committee of MPs.Some foods are already displaying "carbon reduction labels"alongside t...

POTATO growers intending to apply powder treatments to seed tubers at planting this year should consider on-planter applications to minimise the risk of operator exposure and reduce the possibility of the product being blown in to the environment when ...

POTATO growers have been told that changes to the EU Directive (91/414) governing pesticide use could have been a lot worse, but the industry still needs to plan ahead and embrace integrated pest and farm management. Speaking at a Branston technical ...