FERA Science has launched a new industry-driven research and development project to tackle a potato crop threat, within the Enigma series, connecting leading partners with world-class scientists.
The Enigma IV project is focused on advancing on-farm control of Spraing in potatoes.
Enigma Projects Director at Fera Science, Adam Bedford (pictured), said: “As with our previous Enigma research projects, we’re uniting growers, agronomists and scientists to address critical challenges facing the agri-food sector, and very much welcome other organisations to join this journey.”
The goal of Enigma IV is to improve predictive diagnostics for Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) – a leading cause of spraing, which has been known to damage up to 50% of potato crops.
Adam said Fera scientists will work closely with potato specialists to develop more efficient testing processes for TRV.
“Currently, the standard tests used for detecting TRV in potato seed require huge volumes of soil and take more than four weeks to produce results. We want to put spraing control in the hands of potato growers, using research insights to develop an in-field diagnostic service that’s more cost-effective with a faster turnaround time.”
He added: “The ultimate aim is to help growers manage the disease more accurately and minimise crop wastage.”
Enigma V
The Enigma concept, which champions collaborative research, has proven successful with previous projects, including Enigma I, launched in 2022, whose partners included Syngenta, G’s Growers, Pearce Seeds, Blackthorn Arable, Elveden Farms and Inov3PT. This supported Fera scientists with valuable insights on wireworm control.
As a result, scientists have now developed a photographic key that helps growers identify, monitor and control wireworm populations more accurately, Adam said.
“The results of our first Enigma project have shown that, by bringing scientists and industry partners together, we can make rapid progress in producing actionable insights for farmers and growers.”
Organisations interested in contributing and collaborating on the industry-driven research are invited to explore partnership opportunities and can get in touch at www.fera.co.uk/our-science/enigma-research-model. Fera also supports and works closely with governments, academia, and leading research organisations.
