Potato Review

NEWS NFU WELCOMES LAUNCH THE NFU has welcomed the launch of the voluntary initiative. NFU Potato Forum Chair Tim Rooke said: “ ere have been crucial gaps left in the industry since the demise of AHDB Potatoes, such as a dedicated, sector-speci c voice for the broader industry and the coordination of research and development projects, and growers have been left questioning how these will be lled. “Some growers will therefore welcome this voluntary initiative to help address some of these gaps at this time of unprecedented challenge and uncertainty.” ‘Industry is taking ownership’ THE AHDB Petitioners have welcomed the emergence of a new self-regulating R&D environment following the formal lifting of compulsory levies on the potato and horticulture sectors. Lincolnshire vegetable grower Peter orold said: “Over the last six months, since Defra con rmed the scrapping of the horticulture and potato levies and a zero-rated levy for 2022, as predicted we have seen the industry begin to take ownership for its own research and development activity, setting its own priorities and ensuring that those who want the research are able to bene t from it.” In the potato sector, growers have come together to create new grower-led organisations for the ware and seed sectors, and these initiatives are eligible for tax relief where appropriate. e industry has also continued to be eligible for targeted R&D funding, such as Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, which has provided funding for projects in fruit production and vegetable harvesting, among others. In the private sector, organisations including Fera Science and NIAB have also begun to manage collaborative projects on key issues, bringing together stakeholders from numerous backgrounds to work on a common goal. Lincolnshire potato and vegetable grower John Bratley added: “We are pleased to see the crop associations taking the initiative with their members to get targeted R&D done without the monolithic approach that was the AHDB. Now, with the extra pressure from increasing input costs that growers face, it is more important than ever that the statutory levies have been removed and growers can now decide what areas of focus are best for their businesses.” GRIMME UK Ltd. Get more information about these special offers from your local GRIMME Partner. ALLOWANCE PER USED STAR TWO GREAT MONEY-SAVING OFFERS Because now, for the first time, we have developed a process to recycle Original GRIMME stars – protecting the environment, reducing landfill AND making your used genuine GRIMME stars more valuable than maybe you thought. WE’RE OFFERING A 60 PENCE ALLOWANCE FOR EVERY USED GRIMME STAR YOU REPLACE. THAT’S A TOTAL CREDIT OF _45 UP TO £159.60 – WHEN YOU REPLACE THE GRIMME STARS IN A CS DESTONER *