News

Speaking at Potatoes in Practice 2021, scientists of the James Hutton Institute have outlined plans for a Potato Innovation and Translation Hub: a centre of excellence to translate innovation and research into solutions for the potato industry.

The hub is envisioned as a collaborative partnership of researchers, knowledge brokers and commercial companies, acting as a hub for research and translation of innovation to accelerate the adoption of new research products across the potato value chain.

Potatoes in Practice, the UK’s largest field event for potatoes and a highlight of the season for the sector bringing together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place, is set to return on 12 August 2021 to Balruddery Farm (Angus, Dundee DD2 5LJ) with a focus on new varieties and a slightly different format to allow for social distancing, with the support of event partners James Hutton Institute, Agrii UK and SRUC.

With the continued easing of COVID restrictions, Potatoes in Practice is set to take place physically as a field event on 12 August at Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5LL. Field plots have been planted and now event partners have opened the event to other exhibitor bookings.

Despite the current disruptions and uncertainty, the organisers of Potatoes in Practice 2021 have agreed to proceed with preparations as normal to keep all options open for a possible field event on Thursday 12 August 2021.

Potatoes in Practice (PIP) is the UK’s largest field potato event and was cancelled last year due to COVID restrictions. Still, organisers hope that the event can make a comeback in 2021 if regulations allow for it.

From its humble origins in the late 1980s, Potatoes in Practice (PIP) has grown to become the UK’s largest field event for potatoes and a highlight of the season for the sector, bringing together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place. Today (13 August) would have seen us in the field for Potatoes in Practice 2020 but COVID-19 put paid to plans and event partners James Hutton Institute, Agrii UK, AHDB and SRUC took the difficult decision to cancel the event.