News on Research from Oceania

French fries are part of a booming USD 18 billion sector, projected to reach USD 24 billion by decade’s end. Plant & Food Research, part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, has been recognised for creating a new potato variety tailored to this market.

What a day it was on Monday, June 24! The Adelaide Convention Centre was packed with over 900 delegates, all excited to hear from leaders and innovators of the global potato industry.

Potatoes Australia Ltd took great pride in hosting the 12th World Potato Congress 2024. Potatoes Australia Ltd. Chairman Dr. Nigel Crump and Potatoes Australia Ltd. Executive Officer, Sonia Waterson welcomed guests to the event for the official opening.

The countdown to the World Potato Congress 2024 has begun and the excitement is building. The team is working hard behind the scenes to ensure the 2024 Congress is one to remember, with a number of exciting announcements.

Six months into the Potatoes New Zealand chief executive role and Kate Trufitt has embraced the challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm.

Scientists have developed a more planet-friendly way to produce fertilizer, which is an essential component of global food systems.

If you’ve been into a fish and chip shop in Australia in the last 12 months, you may well have seen a notice tacked to the wall about the impact of the potato shortage. Supermarkets, too, slapped temporary limits on frozen chip purchases.

By adopting integrated pest management (IPM) practices growers are not on their own, Australian entomologist, Dr Paul Horne, told Pukekohe potato growers at a Potatoes New Zealand research update breakfast meeting in late March.

Colin and Donna Craig-Brown found the questionably large potato growing in their yard in November 2021. They even named the potato Dug and submitted their surprisingly large find to Guinness World Records (via Food & Wine).

Australian vegetable and potato industry body AUSVEG has announced the appointment of Michael Coote as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 July 2021.

The World Potato Congress is extremely pleased to present its next webinar on Tuesday, April 6, 2021/Wednesday, April 7, 2021, with Dr. Paul Horne, Entomologist, and owner and Director of IPM Technologies Pty Ltd., Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia.

Australian researchers have developed a technique to analyze potato chips’ physical characteristics from simulated first bite to swallow, which they say could be used to help formulate a tastier low-fat snack.

On 10 May, a meeting was held between AuSPICA, members of the Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (known as TasSeed) and invited industry representatives.

A research project in New Zealand is determining if different field soils affect development of powdery scab on potatoes, and whether soil physical, chemical and/or biological characteristics influence this important potato disease.

In an effort to combat food waste, Potatoes South Australia has teamed up with the University of Adelaide and Adelaide Hills Distillery to make vodka from potato skins.

Plant Biosecurity CRC scientists have identified stable regions in the genome of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), which causes the serious disease Zebra Chip in potato and tomato crops. This research will provide new diagnostics that will significantly reduce uncertainty in biosecurity assessments.

Most people say that if there is a healthy choice on a menu they will take it. But observations and research show this is generally not the case.

Equipment manufacturer Heat and Control launched an Augmented Reality App, featuring the Heatwave Fryer. The app is available for download now - in time for the AusPack 2017