A new and rigorous National Potato Wart Response Plan will be implemented in Canada starting with the 2025 potato crop. This critical development aims to contain, control, and prevent the spread of potato wart, a stubborn and economically damaging soil-borne disease.
Potato wart, caused by the fungus Synchytrium endobioticum, poses severe risks to potato production by significantly reducing yields and affecting tuber quality. Currently, it remains confined within Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island (PEI). However, due to its persistence and the ease of spread via soil, equipment, and infected potatoes, stringent controls remain necessary.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in consultation with key stakeholders including the Canadian Potato Council, the PEI Potato Board, and growers, has developed this new response strategy, replacing the Potato Wart Domestic Long-term Management Plan from 2009. Essential new measures outlined in the updated plan include:
- Preventive Control Plans: Farmers utilizing fields under restrictions must now develop detailed control plans to actively manage and mitigate potato wart risks.
- Seed Potato Certification: Fields identified as restricted due to potato wart will no longer be eligible for seed potato certification, reflecting the heightened risk of spreading the pathogen through seed tubers.
- Enhanced Soil Sampling: Additional soil sampling and rigorous analysis protocols must be completed prior to lifting restrictions from affected fields.
Complementary ongoing measures, such as rigorous inspections of fields and harvested tubers, strict compliance with Potato Wart Orders restricting potato and equipment movements, and a National Potato Wart Survey, will ensure the robust management of this pathogen.
Canada produced a record potato crop of 127 million hundredweight in 2024—an increase of 23% from the 2020 harvest—highlighting the need for proactive biosecurity measures. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, this collaborative approach integrating science and industry insights will help protect Canada’s reputation as a reliable producer of high-quality potatoes.
The introduction of Canada’s National Potato Wart Response Plan represents a significant advancement in agricultural disease management. Through comprehensive preventive measures, enhanced regulatory controls, and stakeholder collaboration, the plan strengthens Canada’s ability to sustain robust potato production and safeguard international market access.
