Spud growers are invited to join a new association that was established to promote the Scottish seed potato industry in light of the country’s continued exclusion from the EU market.
Founded as a cooperative last year, the Seed Potato Organization (SPO) is “run by seed growers for the benefit of seed growers.”
Joining SPO costs GBP1,000 in front. This is used to create the organization and can later be redeemed, Farming UK wrote. Based on the amount of seed grown, the co-op charges an annual membership fee of GBP29 per hectare.
Scotland sent over 20,000 tonnes of seed potatoes to Europe annually before the UK left the EU, with a value of almost GBP11m. Scotland is the source of more than 75% of Britain’s seed potato exports. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Europe, which was announced as part of Brexit at the end of 2020, did not, however, reach an agreement on seed potato equivalence. Scottish growers are bearing the brunt of an issue that is growing more and more political as the UK and the EU continue to disagree on it.
A source: https://www.potatobusiness.com
