Potatoes in Practice, the UK's largest field trial event for the potato sector, has made a successful transition to its new home at Balruddery Farm in Angus. Balruddery is to be at the heart of SCRI's research into sustainable farming methods.

More than six hundred visitors attended during the course of the day.

Farmers and those involved in the supply side were able to join tours of the extensive field plots and attend expert seminars on a range of topics from pests and diseases, store management and changes in pesticide regulations.

Well over seventy manufacturers and exhibitors were represented in the giant, central marquee.

PiP is hosted by SCRI and run with the help of SAC, Potato Council, CSC Crop Protection. It is also supported by Potato Review.

The importance of the potato industry is underlined by the value of the crop which is worth £4 billion in consumer terms and £700 million at the farm gate annually.

Scotland’s Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham MSP said: “Scotland is justifiably renowned for its high quality potato production. This is largely due to the skills of our potato growers combined with the Scottish Government's support, through funding of research and development and the direct contribution of Government scientists, policy-makers and inspectors.

"Potatoes in Practice is a great example of Government and industry working in partnership to create a real Scottish success story. Participation in events such as this helps to ensure that Scotland will retain - and expand upon - its leading position."

SCRI scientists at PiP outlined the advances being made that will help benefit the industry. Dr Finlay Dale said: “A good example of where science is taking us is in the use of molecular markers.

“SCRI has developed markers for the selection of several important disease-resistance and quality traits in potato. For the first time in the UK we are now starting to deploy such markers within breeding programmes here at SCRI.

“The worldwide Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium (PGSC), which includes SCRI, is aiming to map the entire potato DNA sequence by the end of the year 2010. The work being done at SCRI will enable us to identify and understand the important disease resistances and beneficial traits in potatoes that we need for use in our conventional breeding programmes and will allow us to manage these more efficiently to produce improved varieties in a shorter time scale.”

Other key demonstrations and exhibits at PiP will trace the history and lineage of the potato and most importantly, allow growers to find out how the onset of climate change will affect the risks they face from pests and pathogens such as Phytophthora infestans (better known as potato or late blight) that costs the industry millions of pounds.

More information from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560044 (direct line), Mobile: 07810 860 701 or

Lorraine Wakefield, Information and Online Service Officer, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560047 (direct line) or 562731 (switchboard).