A vibrant and focused seed industry is essential to the British potato industry, visitors to the British Potato Event heard.
Introducing the GB Potatoes seminar Future changes to the UK’s supply of seed potatoes, Richard Baker, Managing Director of breeders HZPC UK described the scale of the British potato seed industry.
“There are between 14,000 and 14,500 hectares of seed potatoes grown in Great Britain. Exports account for around a third of that area, with another third for fries or chipping and most of the remainder for crisping. Scotland grows three quarters of the GB seed area and England the remainder.”
He said that there are only 32 varieties where more than 100 hectares of seed is grown, with 144 varieties where fewer than 10 hectares are grown. It is also a long-term business with the certified seed that will be planted in 2026 originating from mini-tubers that were ordered in 2020, which means that 2025’s mini-tubers will be providing seed for planting in 2031.
Dutch-based HZPC is one of the world’s largest potato breeders, spending €11 million annually on research. Richad said that by 2030 the aim is to have 75% of its varieties resistant to PVY and show strong late-blight resistance.
Need for innovation
The need for more resilient potatoes is a concern for retailers, especially as the removal of products such as Nemathorin could reduce the British potato area, Phil McCaul, Operations and Commercial Director at Greenvale told the audience.
“We can think of instances in recent years where there’s been gaps on the shelves either through yield problems or quality problems and there’s an increasing realisation that something has to change to make sure retailers have potatoes on the shelf 365 days a year.”
He said that the GB potato area has fallen by almost a quarter over the last few years and a worst-case scenario is that there will be another reduction of more than 40% within ten years.
He expected the fresh potato sector to come under the most pressure because of the higher quality required and that there were fewer resistant varieties in the fresh rather than processing sector.
“There’s a broad acceptance that variety development is critical to sector security. I think it’s been surprising to some retailers actually how long that takes, how forward-looking you have to be, how you have to try to pre-empt what’s going to happen in the future.”
Greenvale has a four-pillared approach to variety development:
- Agronomy & growing: how easy a variety is to grow; what resources it needs and how I yields
- Pest disease and climate: how resistant a variety is to diseases such as PCN and how tolerant it is to extreme weather
- Environment: retailers are having to publish carbon reduction plans and that applies to how the food they supply is produced.
- Consumer requirements: taste, texture, and, increasingly important, appearance. That includes pitching a variety in terms of whether it is premium, standard of value.
Consistency and availability are very important to consumers, said Phil, with Greenvale research showing that usage guidance on packs is valued more than a specific variety. However, that does not exclude the development of new named varieties.
Ideal seed conditions
Mike Wilson, seed potato grower from Aberdeenshire said that his region is ideal for growing some of the best seed potatoes in the world, but it is not an easy process, with some varieties abandoned after a year or two of growing because of unsuitability.
“Poorer yields in 2025 affected costs and while we were less exposed to the decline in demand from Egypt for seed and a drop in price, than others, it has dented returns for seed growers.”
In the longer-term, climate change is a concern, said Mike, with the spread of aphids a particular problem.
The complexity of seed growing means that his farm grows 35 different varieties some taking up a few hectares and others in small strips. Mike’s rotation includes grass, which he said is excellent preparation for a potato crop, while the income that cattle have provided in his mixed system have helped the business over the last few years.
Growing strong and vigorous seed for his clients is key to Mike’s business and this has a focus on reducing the number of generations it takes to deliver commercial seed. That has included reducing the number of years that mini-tubers are grown from three to two years, although that does add cost to the system.
While there are inevitable challenges of a changing climate, greater risks and fewer crop protection options, Mike was still confident that Scotland can continue to deliver the best seed in the world aided by investment by seed companies and support from organisations such as the John Hutton Institute and the Scottish government’s SASA (Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture).
“The climate in Scotland is great for growing potatoes. It has plenty of water, despite being a bit drier last season and it is a healthy climate which means we get good yields. On top of that, our knowledge network is fantastic.”
To see a video of the full presentation of the seed and other seminars see the British Potato website: https://britishpotato.co.uk/industry-event/seminars/