Potato Review

Supporting you through the toughest times. It goes without saying that this year has been tough for everyone. Now, more than ever, companies need support and to find new ways to take on today’s tough challenges. These values are the foundation in which Agrimech was built and we will continue to support and serve all our customers into 2021 and beyond. WWW.AGRIMECH.CO.UK +44 (0) 1354 638 222 AHDB AWARDS P ROFESSOR Ian Toth has been awarded the British Potato Industry Award 2020 in recognition of his contribution to the potato industry over the past 25 years e lifetime achievement award was presented by AHDB Potatoes Chair Alison Levett as part of the Potato Industry Conference 2020 virtual event in November. Ian is a senior scientist and the Director of Scotland’s Plant Heath Centre at the James Hutton Institute inDundee, Scotlandwhere he has been undertaking plant health research for more than 25 years, focusing his e orts on strategic and applied research. He also discusses potential solutions to pests and pathogens, particularly in regard to potato blackleg disease. As Head of theWeeds, Pests and Pathogens theme at the James Hutton Institute, he has been responsible for delivering solutions for controlling blackleg throughout the potato supply chain and extending this knowledge into other potato bacterial diseases. His position at the interface of the science and industry sectors has Outstanding potato industry contributors receive recognition recently been recognised by the award of Director of Scotland’s Plant Health Centre of Expertise. Hewas recently awarded £2Mby BBSRC, NERC, Defra and ScottishGovernment to lead a Bacteria Diseases Initiative grant onblackleg and is also an honorary Professor at the Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. e Above and Beyond Awardwas presented to AndrewFrancis fromElveden Farms, a rst generation farmer who has devoted his career to industry research and development and promoting the UKAgriculture Industry. Alison praised his commitment to trial work and his willingness to share ndings. Andrew joined Elveden Farms in 1994 and worked his way up through the company, becoming Farms Director in 2018 and taking on overall responsibility for the estate at Elveden as well as a 10-year FBTwith the Duchy of Lancaster and two contract farming sites with theWellcome Trust. He is a keen supporter of transferrable technology fromother sectors and utilises research to conduct in-house trials. He has won numerous farming industry awards and is a member of many professional interest groups. e Dr James Hardie Award for 2020 has been awarded toMargaret (Mags) Skinner of the AHDB by the Pre Basic Growers Association. e award is given each year to an individual who hasmade an outstanding contribution to pre basic seed production or who has provided outstanding support to the Association over many years. e Awardwas presented toMags by the Association’s secretary and Treasurer Bill Rennie. e Dr James Hardie Award commemorates Dr Hardie, Head of the Potato Section at East Craigs (now SASA), who encouraged early generation seed potato growers to form the Virus Tested StemCutting Association nearly 50 years ago and to aim for the highest technical standards in seed potato production. e Pre Basic Growers Association celebrates its 50th anniversary year in 2021. Ian Toth is seen to have made a invaluable contribution to the potato industry over the past 25 years at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, Scotland. Margaret (Mags) Skinner, winner of the Dr James Hardie Award 2020. Andrew Francis, winner of the Potato Industry Above and Beyond Award 2020.