'UK potato growers are underestimating their own industry’
Industry experts claim that UK potato growers are massively underestimating the economic significance of their sector. This could be as high as £4.5 billion, rather than the commonly-used estimate of £765 million.
At the SAC Association of Potato Producers (SACAP) conference in Dundee, SRUC senior agricultural economist Steven Thomson told his audience that underselling the industry afforded it less political imperative.
Thomson: “Farmers need to understand the importance of the whole chain rather than just the farm side otherwise there is no political pressure to intervene and support the sector to produce disease-resistant varieties or change practices. By contrast, the Scottish beef sector output is worth £950 million but they tell the Scottish Government they’re worth £3 billion because they’re looking at the whole sector, and that just doesn’t happen with potatoes.”
FreshPlaza is one of the world's most well-known global media platforms for the fresh fruits and vegetables industry, providing its readers with the latest market developments and trends. The team of writers and editors source news from all over the world, and a daily newsletter is sent out with dedicated issues for North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.
FreshPlaza is by nature an interactive concept that relies on the participation of its readers, where readers are encouraged to use the platform for publishing free press releases (500 words or less) and job advertisements.