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Scotland's role in UN Year of the Potato
United Kingdom
Tuesday 11 December 2007
A major conference on global potato production will form part of Scotland’s contribution to the UN Year of the Potato in 2008.
Details were announced at a news conference in Edinburgh called by SCRI. SCRI is the guardian of the Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), a major source of scientific knowledge on one of the world’s most important foods.
As a way of sparking public interest in the Year of the Potato, SCRI has also published “101 facts about the potato”: the world potato trade is worth US$6 billion…China has become the world’s largest producer…and the ancient Incas called them “papas”!
The international conference on potato production will be held in Dundee in August…organised by SCRI and its commercial subsidiary, Mylnefield Research Services.
Among the speakers will be Dr Pamela Anderson, the Director General of the International Potato Centre in Peru, Jean-Marc Rotsaert the Vice-President for Research and Development at Pepsico and Dr Mike Storey, the Head of Research and Development at the British Potato Council.
The rapidly increasing importance of China in the global potato industry will be recognised by the presence at the conference of a high level Chinese delegation. Its members will be visiting the UK as part of the UK – China Development Dialogue 2008.
This year alone, SCRI has hosted three, separate Chinese government delegations. Beijing has also agreed to allow the import of Scottish seed potato mini-tubers…seen as a major breakthrough.
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said: “I am delighted to hear the news that a major conference on global potato production, hosted by SCRI as part of the UN International Year of the Potato, will be coming to Dundee next August.
“The aim of this year is to promote the sustainable development of the potato industry and bolster consumers’ and producers’ well-being. This is in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting healthy, sustainable home grown food and the Scottish food industry.
Details were announced at a news conference in Edinburgh called by SCRI. SCRI is the guardian of the Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), a major source of scientific knowledge on one of the world’s most important foods.
As a way of sparking public interest in the Year of the Potato, SCRI has also published “101 facts about the potato”: the world potato trade is worth US$6 billion…China has become the world’s largest producer…and the ancient Incas called them “papas”!
The international conference on potato production will be held in Dundee in August…organised by SCRI and its commercial subsidiary, Mylnefield Research Services.
Among the speakers will be Dr Pamela Anderson, the Director General of the International Potato Centre in Peru, Jean-Marc Rotsaert the Vice-President for Research and Development at Pepsico and Dr Mike Storey, the Head of Research and Development at the British Potato Council.
The rapidly increasing importance of China in the global potato industry will be recognised by the presence at the conference of a high level Chinese delegation. Its members will be visiting the UK as part of the UK – China Development Dialogue 2008.
This year alone, SCRI has hosted three, separate Chinese government delegations. Beijing has also agreed to allow the import of Scottish seed potato mini-tubers…seen as a major breakthrough.
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said: “I am delighted to hear the news that a major conference on global potato production, hosted by SCRI as part of the UN International Year of the Potato, will be coming to Dundee next August.
“The aim of this year is to promote the sustainable development of the potato industry and bolster consumers’ and producers’ well-being. This is in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting healthy, sustainable home grown food and the Scottish food industry.
