Potato industry 'at risk' after latest outbreak of disease

THE Scottish seed potato industry has reacted with anger to the confirmation of another crop of potatoes being infected with the highly infectious and transmissible potato disease dickeya solani which was found in a sample of ware potatoes grown last year on West Mains of Colliston outside Arbroath.

The outbreak has a number of similarities with the first discovery of dickeya on a farm near Coupar Angus in that it originally came in via a consignment of certified seed from England and that Albert Bartlett, prepackers, Airdrie were involved in the deal.

One difference this time is that the disease has been found in the variety Vivaldi, whereas on the first occasion the variety was Innovator.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has had exclusivity on Vivaldi since it first came over to the UK from Holland a few years ago.

The infected sample was found on the farm which lies in the heartland of potato growing in Scotland with almost half the total crop grown within a 30- mile radius of the location.

Colin Herron, a former chairman of the British Potato Trade Association and now manager of McCains, the major processor of potatoes in the UK, said: "This is putting the whole Scottish potato industry at risk. There are big financial implications if this disease gets out of hand."

Last year, around about 100 million of potatoes were produced in Scotland and part of this came from a record tonnage of top quality seed exported to more than 30 countries.

When the disease first swept through Holland it was estimated that in one year alone 20m was wiped of potato growers' balance sheets.

The Dutch national reputation also suffered with a loss of several export markets – ironically a shift that Scotland has taken advantage off.

Gillian Kynoch, of Bartletts, confirmed yesterday that the certified seed that brought the infected sample into Scotland was delivered last spring and had gone to a number of dedicated Bartlett growers for the 2009 crop year.

The other farms where the seed had been grown had subsequently been inspected and no trace of the disease was found.

She said the crop at West Mains of Colliston was harvested as normal last autumn – with the growing crop showing no signs of the disease – and put in cold store.

However, the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency took a random sample in November 2009 and found the disease, which is similar to blackleg causing a rotting of the tubers. But Bartletts were not notified of any problem until 17 June.

The crop itself went through the Airdrie packhouse in January and February of this year prior to ending up on Sainsbury's shelves. Yesterday Sainsburys said: "At this stage we are unaffected, but we are keeping a close eye on the situation."

Kynoch emphasised that Bartletts had abided by the current legislation throughout the process.

And she confirmed that Bartletts would not be bringing in any more Vivaldi or indeed any other variety through the English market as there is now sufficient top grade Vivaldi being produced in Scotland to meet the company's needs.

Yesterday industry leaders were reluctant to discuss the matter publicly. Allan Stevenson, chairman of the Potato Council, said it was a matter for SASA to deal with and Jim McLaren of NFU Scotland said there was no cause for panic as the additional requirements now in the system would provide a rigorous defence against the disease making an entry into Scotland.

However, the next few weeks will be tense for the industry as crop inspectors are about to commence their field checks next week.

This year, they will require to take samples from plants showing blackleg symptoms from all crops of non-Scottish origin seed and also from 10 per cent of Scottish origin crops. Yesterday Sainsburys said: "At this stage we are unaffected, but we are keeping a close eye on the situation."

Kynoch emphasised that Bartletts had abided by the current legislation throughout the process.

And she confirmed that Bartletts would not be bringing in any more Vivaldi or indeed any other variety through the English market as there is now sufficient top grade Vivaldi being produced in Scotland to meet the company's needs.

Yesterday industry leaders were reluctant to discuss the matter publicly. Allan Stevenson, chairman of the Potato Council, said it was a matter for SASA to deal with and Jim McLaren of NFU Scotland said there was no cause for panic as the additional requirements now in the system would provide a rigorous defence against the disease making an entry into Scotland.

However, the next few weeks will be tense for the industry as crop inspectors are about to commence their field checks next week.

This year, they will require to take samples from plants showing blackleg symptoms from all crops of non-Scottish origin seed and also from 10 per cent of Scottish origin crops.