Farm leaders are urging the UK’s major supermarkets to support potato growers by continuing to relax retail specifications amid another challenging season.
The past three years have all seen growers facing drought, floods and months of heavy rain – hitting yields and profitability. Significant delays lifting the 2023 crop were followed delays planting the 2024 crop.
At the same time, costs of key inputs like fertiliser and energy for storing potatoes have remained unsustainably high, with the compound cost of production in the sector increasing by 28% over the past two years.
NFU potato policy group vice chair Alastair Heath said: “The potato is versatile, nutritious and affordable, making it not only a national favourite but a staple part of most people’s diets. Yet the future of British potatoes is at risk.”
Relentless weather
Mr Heath added: “Growers have made the difficult choice to reduce production to minimise losses, and the relentless wet weather has put many more growers weeks behind schedule.”
For some farmers, profits had been all but wiped out, said Mr Heath.
Business confidence was low and investment had become a far-away concept – putting short-term pressure on British potato supplies.
“While it’s unlikely to lead to empty shelves this year, this pressure on the homegrown crop is an indication that we need urgent action to prevent the situation getting worse.
“I believe we can and should be self-sufficient in potatoes.”
Supply chains say they have been working with growers to be flexible with supermarket specifications to use as much of the British crop as possible. Even so, more potato imports are appearing so consumers aren’t faced with empty shelves.
Import risks
The NFU has warning against relying on imports as a backup plan. It says doing so comes with its own risks.
European supplies are also tight due to a widespread shortage of seed potatoes and similarly poor 2023 harvests and planting conditions.
With the average person eating some 33kg of potatoes annually, the NFU says practical government policies are needed to protect and boost British potato production.
It says this should include schemes to support growers to drive productivity and adapt to climate change.
