Potato Review

4 POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2022 NEWS New chitting trays pass extensive on-farm trials with ying colours A NEW chitting tray system designed and developed by Tom Neat, Managing Director of Techneat Engineering, and Sta ordshire-based potato producer Sam Daw, has successfully completed several on-farm trials this spring, following its initial launch at last year’s British Potato Event. With a strong steel frame, galvanised to resist corrosion, the new chitting trays are specifically designed to reduce labour and tuber damage. Each tray is capable of holding up to 125kg of potatoes and has been designed to be easier to stack than traditional wooden trays, with integral fork locators for easier handling. They can be stacked up to four high, assuming the size of a 1t box. The semi-translucent, smooth moulded plastic trays have also been designed to allow good light transmission to aid the chit. They are produced in Cambridgeshire. July/August 2022 Editor Stephanie Cornwall 01778 395055 stephanie.cornwall@warnersgroup.co.uk Multimedia Sales Executive eresa Geeson 01778 392046 theresag@warnersgroup.co.uk Publisher Juliet Loiselle 01778 391067 Julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Design Amanda Clare Subscriptions 01778 392464 subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions & advertising copy Potato Review, Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH www.potatoreview.com ISSN 0961–7655 © AREMI Ltd 2018 e publishers are not necessarily in agreement with opinions expressed in this journal. No responsibility can be accepted for statements made by contributors or advertisers. POTATO REVIEW is published by: Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH Printed by Warners (Midlands) Plc Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111 Key targets set by Europatat membership GROWING membership, gaining more influence over EU policy-making and increasing sustainability engagement are amongst the targets set by Europatat in its 2022-2025 strategy. The organisation membership approved a new vision and mission for Europatat, as well as the key fields of action and priorities for the next three years, when it held its conference in Dublin recently. Some of the examples and targets set include: • Membership’s enlargement: More representativeness by reaching a total of 80 members • Regularly updated potato sector database on several priority dossiers to influence EU policy makers or sector developments • Become a recognised leader for key dossiers such as potato health benefits, sustainability and trade • Increase engagement with civil society stakeholders on sustainability values of the potato • Improve RUCIP’s visibility and trust among countries and companies in Europe. BROWN LEAF SPOT MONITORING THE European Commission has recommended that a monitoring of Alternaria toxins, alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid in foods, should be carried out by food business operators. Alternaria alternata is a common fungus in many crops, including potato. Brown leaf spot (Alternaria alternata) of potatoes is similar to early blight. Just as common, yet underestimated, brown leaf spot presents symptoms that are often incorrectly attributed to early blight. Alternaria alternata produces a large number of phytotoxins, but few of these have been chemically characterised. The most common in food are alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene, tenthoxin, and tenuazonic acid. The teratogenic and phenotoxic e ects observed in humans and animals, for some of these toxins, aroused the interest of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which published a scientific report to inform that chronic intake to Alternaria toxins in the European population is above the threshold of toxicological concern.