Potato Gazette (PG) had the opportunity to sit down with Greg Smith (GS), the UK & Ireland Representative for the DLG and Event Director for Potato Days UK. The DLG (German Agricultural Society), a politically independent and non-profit organisation, pursues the aim of promoting the sharing of knowledge among farmers across borders. We discussed the upcoming Potato Days UK event, the current challenges faced by potato growers, and the innovative solutions being developed to tackle these issues.
PG: Tell us about Potato Days UK and why you feel now is the right time for this event to come to the UK?
GS: At the DLG, we’ve been involved in making events by farmers, for farmers for more than 135 years. Our potato sector events include the highly successful PotatoEurope field event series held in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium. We wanted to offer a field event that was more accessible for British and Irish growers. Farmers consistently tell us that these field days events, combining live machinery demonstrations with trial plots, outdoor exhibits and indoor stands representing the whole sector provide a unique opportunity to see the industry ‘at large’ in one go. Potato Days UK does just that and we’re working hard with our partners, including Dyson Farming and McCain, to create this practice oriented venue for our visitors.
It’s a free-to-attend event and in addition to the show and live demonstrations, there’s a programme of informative talks and discussions as well as lots of opportunities to network and socialise.”
PG: What are the current challenges faced by UK potato growers, such as changing weather conditions and sustainability demands, and how are these being tackled through new technologies and practices?
GS: In common with most arable farmers, potato growers face several challenges that are mostly factors outside their direct control. These include climate change, the drive towards carbon reduction and wider policy changes. Potato Days UK has been designed to offer farmers and growers the opportunity to understand the impact of these variables more fully in a practical setting, and to see the latest machinery, technology and farm input solutions to help tackle them at first hand. In addition, the field event offers learning, knowledge gathering and networking opportunities. UK professional potato growers can meet and interact with experts in the field and share experiences with their peers. This is an important part of solving these challenges.
So changing weather conditions, pests and diseases and sustainability demands, including new environmental regulations and water management along with a growing concern for soil health are just some of the topics that potato growers can explore at the event.
Exhibiting companies at our show will be demonstrating their responses to these challenges through the application of the latest technology, for example adoption of precision agriculture and the use of remote sensing, drones, gps-guided machinery and automation. At Potato Days UK we’ll be demonstrating a wide range of the latest harvesting machinery as well as equipment for cultivation, weeding and crop handling and loading.
We have prepared ten trial plots from a range of exhibitors which will show visitors the impact of integrated pest management and sustainable growing practices in action. For example, some potato plots have been irrigated using drip irrigation, significantly improving water use efficiency. Other climate-resilient practices will be on show and covered in the programme of talks and panel discussions held over both days, with contributions from professional potato partners including the James Hutton Institute, Dyson Farming Research and the University of Lincoln.
PG: What are the most significant trends in the UK potato industry today, and how are advances in areas like crop nutrition, fertilizer management, and harvesting efficiency contributing to these trends?
GS: The UK potato industry is witnessing several significant trends that are shaping the future of potato production. These include a drive towards precision agriculture, fuelled by digital farm management, sustainability and environmental stewardship and improved harvesting efficiency.
As in other arable crops, digitalisation and data management continue to establish themselves in potato cultivation. Examples of this are site-specific application maps for fertilisers and crop protection products or the use of chemical siccatives based on the degree of maturity.
As in other arable crops, digitalisation and data management continue to establish themselves in potato cultivation. Examples of this are site-specific application maps for fertilisers and crop protection products or the use of chemical siccatives based on the degree of maturity.
At Potato Days UK, visitors will be able to experience these technologies first hand, both on show, in the demonstrations and in topics being covered in our programme of talks and discussions. We have all the major potato machinery manufacturers demonstrating their latest innovations for harvesting and post-harvest technologies.
Continuous evolution and the adoption of new technologies will collectively contribute to a positive outcome for the UK potato industry
PG: With sustainability becoming increasingly important in agriculture, what innovative solutions and practices are being developed to help potato growers reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining high productivity?
GS: To help potato growers reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining high productivity, several innovative solutions and practices are being developed and adopted in the UK. In addition to precision farming solutions in particular, I would add that at Potato Days UK we’re aiming to offer the visitor the chance to gain an overview of how an integrated approach to growing can tackle the important challenge of maintaining productivity and quality while farming sustainably and cost efficiently.
Although some interventions are crop specific, many apply across the whole approach to farming and benefit the farm overall. In addition to adopting new technologies and machinery, many farmers are now focussing on renewable energy and circular economy practices, including waste recycling -into compost or bioenergy – and resource recovery. Although early days, there are excellent examples in potato processing of utilizing by-products and residues, such as starch, for new products, soil amendments or animal feed.
Finally, while the pace of innovation is fast, its uptake is governed by cultural change. UK potato farmers are some of the best in the world and lead the way by embracing new agricultural technologies and practices developed through research and innovation. By spreading knowledge and sharing experience, through events like Potato Days UK, potato growers can significantly reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining high productivity, while contributing to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.
About Greg Smith:
Based in the UK, Greg Smith is DLG’s representative in the UK and Ireland. Together with professional partners, Greg is responsible for launching the new event, Potato Days UK, an field exhibition venue for potato growers. The DLG (German Agricultural Society), a politically independent and non-profit organisation, pursues the aim of promoting the sharing of knowledge among farmers across borders. DLG has subsidiaries in nine countries and also organizes over 30 regional agricultural and livestock exhibitions worldwide. DLG’s leading international exhibitions, EuroTier for livestock farming and Agritechnica for agricultural machinery, which are held every two years in Hanover, Germany, provide international impetus for the local trade fairs, including the new Potato Days UK, 4 and 5 September, Nocton, Lincolnshire, UK. https://potato-days.uk/
