Bleak prospects in the UK potato sector prompted Norfolk potato grower Harry Barnett to undertake a Nuffield scholarship on how to counteract restrictive agronomic and market challenges.

Extremely low margins, poor return on capital and a steadily declining retail market are burdening the UK potato sector. Combined with unpredictable weather and disease pressure, it has forced many potato growers out of production.

See also: Potato growing innovations to cut inputs and carbon footprint

“There is a lot of negativity within the sector. The risk reward balance is severely out of kilter. People are feeling suppressed and depressed,” says Harry, who manages 400ha of potatoes at the Holkham estate in North Norfolk.

What’s more, potatoes are becoming perceived as an ugly crop which do not fit into regenerative farming systems. But, this isn’t necessarily the case, he says.

Travelling across Europe and North America, Harry was enlightened by the diverse range of production systems and strong global demand for potato products.

“As UK potato growers, I don’t think we are aware of how well we actually work.

“Our input use is relatively low compared with other countries across the globe.

“We also have good awareness of the issues we are facing and are actively working to overcome these.

“We perhaps think we have a tough climate, with too much rain, water shortages and drought, but compare this to other places across the globe such as Africa, Asia and parts of North America, we don’t have it that bad.”

Potatoes certainly aren’t an easy crop to manage, but Harry is adamant the industry can persevere.

Something he is particularly keen to get behind is championing the potato sector, which he says is certainly lacking at the moment.

Findings from Europe

As part of Harry’s scholarship, sponsored by McDonald’s and the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, he visited Germany, Belgium, France, Holland and Poland, as well as the US and Canada.

“Our European neighbours are the most aligned with growing challenges.

“Most notably with a scarcity of water during the growing season and an abundance during harvest, making it harder to consistently deliver marketable yields.”

Harry visited farms in the Netherlands that were battling the government on environmental rules restricting phosphate and nitrogen use, and French farmers who were subject to annual restrictions on water use.

Despite this, he found the atmosphere of the potato industry in Europe to be more positive than the UK.

“Many were small family farms, making good margins on smaller areas.

“Growers were focused on supplying the processing market – particularly the french fry sector.

“There was a clear investment into infrastructure, which was working for them.”

The UK now imports just shy of 1m tonnes of frozen potato products each year, mainly from Europe.

Perhaps the UK potato sector has not followed market trends as closely as its counterparts on the Continent, with increased demand for processing varieties?

Furthermore, Harry was made aware of the heightened quality control on seed varieties, which has the potential to make sourcing seed stock more challenging in future.

High legislative specs on seed to include pest and disease control were making it harder for European growers to supply seed stock.

Many were turning to the processing sector as a less risky option.

Findings from North America

While travelling in North America, Harry was struck by the sheer scale of potato production and the level of inputs and outputs which “operated on a whole other level”.

“I saw 35,000ha farms, growing 8,000ha of potatoes. The scale was unreal.

“One person could operate a centre pivot irrigation system from a computer screen.

“It was certainly high input, but with yields of 100t/ha, Washington State produces some of the highest potato yields in the world.”

US farmers were often working with extremely fine margins, but the scale of their operations enabled this.

In fact, large farms often worked in partnership with processors.

However, Harry said he was concerned by the level of input use and struggled to see how this was going to be maintained long-term.

“Fumigating soils with 40 gallons an acre of an organophosphate, while applying 30 inches of water to a crop annually cannot be good for the long-term health of the public and environment.”

But, one thing that Nuffield taught him was not to be judgemental.

“US farmers are asked to produce plentiful, cheap food.

“Their model of scale and inputs reduces risk, therefore allowing farmers to be successful at margins that would bankrupt UK producers.”

Key take home messages

1.Water management

Returning from his scholarship travels, Harry reflected on the key things he had learned from his trip. Water management was one of the top priorities.

“Farmers have severe challenges battling with the weather.

“Managing water in an optimal way is likely to become a key production factor for potato growers. Those that do so successfully will be the real winners.”

Sufficient water infrastructure needs to be in place on farm, to capture excess water in surplus rainfall periods for use in dry/drought conditions.

Infrastructure must go beyond simply rainwater harvesting, notes Harry.

Growers must ensure healthy soil structure that allows water to infiltrate, with investment into good drainage systems to mitigate waterlogging and so allow systems to be more adaptable.

2. Breeding

Until five years ago, potato breeding companies were completely focused on developing varieties based on yield rather than disease resistance.

Visiting research facilities, breeders were quick to point out that stronger agronomic traits to promote overall crop health are now added to breeding programmes.

“Strong plant genetics that have the ability to fight off pathogens and reduce the use of chemical inputs are going to be essential for farmers to hit input reduction targets.

“I came away excited as to what can be achieved, even with conventional breeding techniques.”

3. Markets

Harry advises growers to find a niche spot in the potato market and really focus on it – whether it is a particular variety or market choice.

“For example, here at Holkham our main focus is on the salad potato market,” he says.

“Delve into the detail of costs and invest in the right infrastructure, technology and people.”

The ultimate aim is for growers to be provided with enough margin to be able to reinvest into the sector and grow their business.

4. Consumer demand

One thing that became apparent to Harry during his journey across the globe was that the potato remains cemented in western diets.

“Growth around the world as people trade into these products is huge, which gives me hope for the UK potato sector.”

If the UK consumer wants nutritious, environmentally friendly produced food, they will have to pay more for it in the short term. Removing inputs removes control and adds risk.

“UK consumers are going to either have to support producers directly by increased prices on the retail shelves, or indirectly through government support.

“The huge strides of change in my opinion are needed as part of a long-term sustainable food strategy.”

He concludes: “I truly believe the humble potato, that has been a staple in UK diets for centuries, should be championed and embraced in our UK farming systems.

“After all, the potato in its unprocessed form is the most carbon efficient and the most nutritious carbohydrate on offer.”