OUTSTANDING funds from the former AHDB potato levy are to be used to help seed potato producers gain authorisations for crop protection products.
Membership body GB Potatoes has joined Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd (HCP) on behalf of the British seed potato industry, a step made possible through an AHDB grant using the remaining Potato Levy funds.
HCP was created by the UK horticultural sector to take on the task of processing Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) and Emergency Authorisation (EA) applications for crop protection products. These applications are made to the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for products that plant protection companies typically won’t pursue owing to small market size and high application costs.
EAMU and EA applications are costly, technically demanding, and time-consuming, making them nearly impossible for individual seed potato growers.
Once authorised through HCP, the products become available to all growers of the crop, providing sector-wide benefit.
To manage this process, GB Potatoes will act as secretariat for a newly-formed Technical Working Group which will be made up of agronomists, seed growers, and representatives from industry bodies. Together, they will collaborate with HCP to assess and prioritise the seed sector’s plant protection needs.
“This effort aligns with GB Potatoes’ mission, bringing together the supply chain to address industry-wide challenges and ensure a robust, sustainable future for potato production in Great Britain,” a GB Potatoes announcement stated.
At the heart of the group’s work will be the development and upkeep of a Potato Risk Register, a document that highlights major pest, disease, and weed threats, and identifies gaps in available plant protection products (PPPs).
Leveraging HCP’s technical expertise, the group will assess which products are most likely to receive authorisation. Regular meetings will use the Risk Register to determine where EAMU or EA applications are most urgently needed.
The GB announcement continued: “This intelligence will guide engagement with agrochemical companies, who evaluate whether they have existing or pipeline products that could meet the sector’s needs. It’s the role of the technical group to communicate the crop-specific urgency and build the case for support.”
The Technical Working Group will focus on three key areas:
• Developing and maintaining a Potato Risk Register to highlight key pest and disease threats and identify critical gaps in plant protection options.
• Advising on EAMU or EA applications based on the sector’s priorities.
• Bringing forward suggestions for new EAMU candidates based on industry experience and technical needs.
“High-grade seed potato production underpins the entire British potato industry. The quality and health of seed directly influence the success of ware production and the wider supply chain,” the organisation states.
“However, regulatory changes and the loss of key crop protection tools — including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides — are making seed production increasingly difficult.
“Thanks to this collaboration with HCP, supported by residual Potato Levy funds, the seed potato sector now has a structured pathway to pursue essential authorisations. While seed growers are the immediate beneficiaries, the broader industry also stands to gain.
“This is a shared challenge that demands a shared solution. We are laying the groundwork to support seed producers, stimulate planting, and secure the future of sustainable, high-quality potato production across Great Britain.”
