'Eco-friendly' potatoes created in Scotland

Scientists in Dundee claim to have developed an "environmentally sound" potato which needs less water and fertiliser than other varieties.

 

The Vales Sovereign was created at the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

It is being hailed as a "farming milestone" by supermarket chain Tesco who will stock the vegetable in their stores.

 

The oval-shaped potato is also said to be resistant to high levels of disease and is cheap and easy to grow.

 

Jonathan Corbett, the supermarket's potato buyer, said: "This potato is a milestone in farming history as it will allow growers a large yield for a relatively small outlay while being environmentally sound.

 

"It is also a real coup for Scotland where it was bred and may one day go down in agricultural history."