Sowing fresh seeds of concern
Leaders of Scotland’s seed potato industry have become the latest group to appeal for more political certainty in post-brexit life.
On his return from the annual major fruit and vegetable trade fair in Berlin, Archie Gibson of Agrico – one of the main players in the seed potato trade– said: “One of the most immediate challenges we all face is the uncertainty around ability to export into European countries and North African countries where we have arrangements under European Union rules and regulations.
He added the industry would be looking to have permission to arrange bilateral agreements with countries such as Egypt, Israel, Morocco and the Canary Islands – all major customers for Scottish seed. “At the moment Defra
is saying everything can come into the UK but the same is not true in reverse. We need to see some movement on that.”
Gibson said the industry wanted solutions. It did not want “the frustration of politics getting in the way of free movement of goods”.
Regardless of how Brexit pans out, Sandy Mcgowan from Cygnet PB, another of the seed exporting companies, was sure of one thing: “Customers choose British seed potatoes for various reasons. No 1 would be the quality we can produce here in the UK. We’re an island nation, we produce most of our seed potatoes for export in the north of Scotland so that means our disease pressure is lower, our bacteria issues are less and we have expert knowledge and logistics for our growers to call on.”
Rob Burns from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board which encourages exports said they would be working to maintain seed export flows this year with a renewed focus on existing markets.
“Countries such as Egypt, Morocco and Israel are some of the largest importers of British seed potatoes,” he said.
“That’s why this year we will be hosting delegations from countries like Egypt, so they can see the crop in the field, meet our exporters and get an in-depth understanding of our industry’s commitment to quality.”