Potatoes New Zealand developed a potato industry vision statement for how the industry will operate by 2011. The vision statement describes 5 industry characteristics:

• The industry operates in an environmentally sustainable manner.
• The industry operates with ever increasing productivity and innovation.
• The nutritional and health benefits of the potato are recognised by the consumer.
• The industry operates as a series of partnerships that have a common focus.
• The economic importance of the industry is recognised.
• Potatoes New Zealand believes that investment in research and development is essential to achieve the desired 2011 characteristics.

A new project entitled  “Improved production protocols to support a sustainable potato industry” received support from MAF SFF. This project focuses on rhizoctonia and volunteer potato management.

Given the industry’s current issue with tomato / potato psyllid, Liberibacter, and Phytoplasma, research work into the foreseeable future will be focused on finding solutions. To this end the Potato Research & Development Investment Group is a partner in a multi sector research project which has received significant MAF SFF funding.

For further information on this project please see the current project list.