Seed potato exports are producing huge rewards
Building up exports applies to agriculture as much as any other UK industry and this is why AHDB's mission to help make levy payer businesses more competitive and sustainable is taking it all over the world, writes Sophie Lock.
The rewards for exports work stand to be huge. There will be more than two billion middle class households in Asia by 2020, for example, with more than one billion in China and India alone. Already a wealthy, aspirational world market, 25 times the size of the entire UK, Asian consumers increasingly demand good quality, value-added Western produce on a massive scale.
So how is the levy board paving the way for UK exporters to sell more of its agricultural produce to more foreign markets? Take one important sector of agriculture – potatoes. British seed potatoes are grown in around 50 countries, with Egypt a long-time export destination, accounting for around 40 per cent of total seed exported. In fact, Great Britain has just become the EU's leading source of seed potatoes to Egypt.
Israel and Morocco accounted for a further 21 per cent of our seed exports last year, while Indonesia, Thailand and Turkey also proved growing markets for UK potatoes.
GB seed potatoes are produced in ideal conditions for producing healthy, vigorous crops, perfect for both high-grade seed production and supplies of ware potatoes. Thanks to regular communications between AHDB Potato Council, plant health officials and the industry, seed potatoes from Britain are regarded as among the best in the world.
British seed potato exports have increased by around 70 per cent over the last 10 years – a success story by any account – but it wouldn't have been surprising if export levels had dropped due to the challenging 2012 season. Yet the opposite has proved to be the case, with current exports to Egypt actually ahead of 2011/12. As figures continue to rise, 41,000 tonnes have already been exported to Egypt this year. In 2011/12, British exports of seed potatoes brought £31m into Britain.
GB's technical expertise is also exported with the product, as many of the individual potato varieties are bred specifically for widely varying growing conditions around the world.
Closer to home, a new development saw Potato Council team up with AHDB's horticulture division, HDC at February's massive Fruit Logistica fruit and vegetable trade show in Berlin. Potato Council and HDC showcased seed potatoes and UK horticultural crops to about 55,000 trade visitors from more than 130 countries at the event – proving that the collaborative approach really does give agri-exports from Britain a major boost.
Sophie Lock is communications officer with the Potato Council