Stability of potato sector recorded in report

The potato market is more stable in Scotland than at a UK level, representing nearly a quarter of the overall potato production from farms, according to a new report produced by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Farm gate production of potatoes in Scotland – including seed and ware potatoes – had a value of around £245 million between 2018 and 2020.

This represented 6% of Scottish agricultural output and 22% of UK potato production.

While the UK is now importing more potato products – including processed products – than it is exporting, it is still a net exporter of seed potatoes, of which Scotland accounts for 75% of the area grown in Britain.

However, the report highlighted a 71% reduction in the demand for fresh potatoes in the UK since the 1970s, with consumers switching to alternatives such as rice and pasta.

The loss of access to export markets for seed potatoes following Brexit represents another loss of demand, particularly for Scotland where seed production is more important due to its disease-free growing conditions and associated “high health” status.

Overall, the Scottish potato sector had an on-farm and upstream economic contribution of £507m output and accounted for 2,880 full-time jobs.

Report author Steven Thomson of SRUC says that Scotland enjoys an international reputation for growing high-health seed potatoes, yet the economic contribution of the seed sector was often only reported as the farm gate value.

SRUC is running a potato rouging course at Mains of Tertowie Farm, Kinellar, from June 17-21.