Pots of cash from world potato event

POTATO experts from around the world are to converge on Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh International Conference Centre will host the eighth World Potato Congress.

At least 600 potato specialists from around the globe will attend the event, which is expected to provide a 700,000 boost to the Capital's economy.

The three-day event will take place in June 2012 and is one of 20 events worth 6.4 million won for the city with the assistance of the Edinburgh Convention Bureau (ECB) in a month.

Sue Stuart, the chief executive of the ECB, said: "When you realise the contribution the potato makes to the diet of people around the world it's not so humble after all."