DESPITE a clearly defined need for a well-supported grower organisation to represent the needs of potato producers there was little evidence at last week’s Potatoes in Practice that growers were enthusiastically answering the clarion call.

The two organisations set up to meet this end, one for seed producers and the other aimed at the wider industry, were present at last week’s Potatoes In Practice event - but both expressed a degree of exasperation at the lack of commitment from many in the sector.

North-east grower and chair of the Seed Potato Organisation (SPO), Mike Wilson said that while producers were beginning to realise the need for a collective approach over issues such as arguing the sector’s case in discussions with the Chemical Regulation Division over gaining the extension of authorisation for minor use (EAMU) which was often required for seed crops, there was still a degree of apathy when it came to making a financial commitment.

He said that with around 40 members signed up, there was a need to push growers harder to realise the importance of maintaining a strong voice for the industry – and this often required a deal of “chasing up” to get the necessary commitments:

“And while we’re a group made up of growers for growers, that means we have little time on our hands to do this - so we have been looking at taking someone on to build momentum on this front.”

But he said that while talks had been held with GB Potatoes, the producer group which covered ware growers as well, about collaborating on specific areas, he felt that the distinct needs of the seed sector merited a stand-alone producer group.

Similarly, when asked how many members had been recruited by GB Potatoes, Mark Taylor, the Lincs-based agri-consultant who chairs the group said “Not enough!”.

He agreed that while there was a growing recognition of the need for a strong industry voice, there was still a lot of “fence-sitting and apathy” amongst growers when it came to joining up:

“The potato sector is a bit of a fragmented industry – but we have to realise that we need to pull together,” said Mr Taylor who added that the imminent appointment of a chief executive to front the organisation would help deliver such an approach.

And commenting on discussions which had taken place with the SPO, he said that his organisation recognised that the seed sector had distinct requirements, but suggested that this could still be catered for within the wider remit of GB Potatoes.

Scottish director of GB Potatoes, Archie Gibson added that the industry owed it to the younger generation to set up an organisation which would ensure that the potato industry was well represented in discussions with government’s and policy makers – and which could see the sort of research and development delivered which would be necessary to keep it at the forefront of industry innovation.