“This project is hugely important to the sector and the sector is hugely important to Scotland. It is predicted that if co-ordinated action is not taken now, Scotland’s bulb and potato industries may no longer be viable in the next 30 years due to the reduction in available non-infested land. We cannot let this happen.”

A major new project will tackle pests in potatoes through the protection of clean land and the management of land already infested with pests.

The project will focus specifically on tackling potato cyst nematode (PCN), which is becoming an increasing challenge, with its presence in some fields across Scotland. It will be led by Scotland’s Plant Health Centre (PHC) and will receive £2.2 million of Scottish Government funding over five years, with £470,000 of the funding made available for this year.

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This article was originally posted by The James Hutton Institute