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R&D | POTATO INDUSTRY EXTENSION PROGRAM |
The Potato Industry Extension Forum at Hort Connections 2017 attracted more than 50 potato industry
stakeholders and provided an avenue for robust discussion about the future of the industry. Australian
Potato Industry Extension Project Manager Adrian Dahlenburg provides a recap of the event.
FORUM INFORMS AND CHALLENGES POTATO
INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
On 15 May, Potatoes South Australia welcomed around
100 guests to its luncheon at Hort Connections 2017. This
unique networking event, which preceded the Potato
Industry Extension Forum managed by Arris Pty Ltd, was an
opportunity for members from all facets of the potato
industry to meet, share their ideas and discuss the key
issues affecting their sector.
The luncheon proved to be a popular event with plenty of
thought-provoking discussion, courtesy of Andrew Taylor –
the man who lost over 50 kilograms by eating nothing except
potatoes for a year.
Potatoes South Australia Chief Executive Officer Robbie Davis
was thrilled by the reception that the luncheon received.
“I was so delighted that horticulture had united in a combined
entity at a conference like Hort Connections and it just seemed
like a fabulous opportunity to hold a function at the start of it,”
Ms Davis said.
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY
A Melbourne schoolteacher, Mr Taylor turned to a diet of
potatoes to help cure his food addiction – and not only did he
drop 52 kilograms, the man known through his ‘Spud Fit’ blog
and website also revived both his physical and mental health.
Mr Taylor was interviewed by Adelaide breakfast radio host,
Mark Soderstrom. Joining the pair was Dr Katie Wood from
the University of Adelaide, a research dietitian with the
FOODplus Research Centre, who spoke about the nutritional
benefits of potatoes.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a function where there has
been so much discussion,” Ms Davis said.
“Andrew was able to talk about the health benefits of potatoes
and this was supported by the University of Adelaide, in a room
full of people dedicated to the potato industry – it was a very
positive experience.
“We’ve done considerable research with the University
of Adelaide, our major research partner, and engaged with
marketing agencies in South Australia and we’ve realised there
are three main messages.
“Firstly, we have to dispel the myth that potatoes are high in
carbs. In fact, they’ve got less carbs than rice or pasta.
“Secondly, we need to educate people about how potatoes
are highly nutritious, and finally, we just need to reposition
them in a more positive way.”
FIGURE 1: SURVEY RESULTS OF INFORMATION
RESOURCES (NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS)
Arris Pty Ltd, coordinator of the delivery of the Potato Industry
Extension Program, held its inaugural forum at the Adelaide
Convention Centre on 15 May. More than 50 potato industry
stakeholders attended the event, including growers, researchers
and industry service representatives.
Presentations at the workshop were topical and outlined
challenging and thought-provoking opportunities that could
impact future industry direction and development. A short,
simple survey taken at the workshop also canvassed participants’
opinions on matters that could be used to guide the format and
direction of the extension project in the future.
CONTROLLING TOMATO-POTATO PSYLLID
Melbourne-based entomologist Angelica Cameron from IPM
Technologies was among the presenters at the forum. She
reiterated the basics of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for
the control of insect pests in potato crops, with a particular
emphasis on the care needed and likely impact of increased
crop protection applications for the control of tomato-potato
psyllid (TPP).
Participants heard that it was essential to keep a balanced
approach when controlling TPP, as experience from New
Zealand had shown other pests can re-emerge as significant
problems as a result of a single-minded emphasis on TPP control.
Ms Cameron indicated that IPM programs and strategies to
control TPP have been developed and that Australia has some
additional environmental and native predator factors that could
potentially deliver further advantages to Australian producers.
EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY
Aerial and satellite crop surveillance is an emerging technology
that has the potential to deliver benefits to both individual
growers and whole industries. Jasmine Muir, a Research Fellow
from the University of New England Precision Agriculture
Research Group, spoke to the audience about the type of work
the group is undertaking in a wide range of crops using satellites,
planes, drones and ground-based robots.
The information that has been collected using these
technologies on either a paddock or regional scale includes
yield forecasting, crop maturity and harvest scheduling, fruit
size and quality, disease and pest incursions, crop nutrition,
varieties and irrigation efficiency. While the group currently
has no potato industry projects, it is open to exploring this
opportunity with industry.
Some key issues for the advancement of this technology for
the future benefit of the potato industry are the need to clearly
identify the most beneficial components to focus on, and the
development of mapping and data presentation standards or
guidelines to help ensure outputs from a wide range of users
and developers can be used for whole-of-industry development.
PUTTING SOIL ON THE AGENDA
Four short presentations also highlighted different aspects of soil
health monitoring, management and improvement that could be
beneficial to potato growers. Peats Soils Managing Director Peter
Wadawitz spoke about the benefits of organic soil amendments
for improving the microbiological health of soils which can reduce
fertiliser inputs and improve crop yields and product quality.
Composts are one form of organic soil amendment, with
demonstrated benefits through the research work of Darren
Cribbes from ConNexusGlobal. Mr Cribbes also highlighted the
increasing range of soil and organic amendment tests and analysis
that are now available to better characterise these materials and
provided the linkages to crop performance and general soil health.
Michael Rettke, one of the key South Australian Research and
Development Institute (SARDI) researchers in the development of
the DNA-based soil pathogen testing service, PreDicta Pt,
explained the economic benefits and reduced risks associated with
the routine use of the service. Meanwhile, HortEx Executive Officer
Bryan Robertson spoke about the possible economic benefits of
using soil fumigation to control nematodes.
HAVING A SAY
Attendees at the forum were asked to complete a brief survey,
which was designed to provide a snapshot of the experiences,
thoughts and ideas of industry stakeholders when they obtain and
implement new information in their enterprises.
After identifying the industry sectors of the participants (which
will allow Arris to segregate the other data), respondents were
asked to select their top two responses to questions about
extension methods, information resources, new approaches
to information delivery and building expertise in the industry.
Around half of the respondents were from the service industries
sector and a further 20 per cent were from the R&D sector, which
must be considered in the analysis of the results. Some trends
were evident, with growers favouring extension methods that are
casual and farm-orientated, as well as delivery approaches that are
electronically-based, such as phone apps, internet searches and
web pages. Figure 1 outlines the responses received in relation to
the information resources used by the participants from the various
industry sectors.
The results from this survey have been compiled into a summary
report. Please contact Adrian Dahlenburg for a copy (details below).
For further information or to discuss the Potato Industry Extension Program,
please contact Project Manager Adrian Dahlenburg on 08 8313 6706 or
or Arris Pty Ltd Managing Director Jim Kelly on
08 8313 6706 or .
The Potato Industry Extension Program has been funded by Horticulture
Innovation Australia using the fresh potato research and development levy
and funds from the Australian Government.
Project Number: PT15002
INFO
CELEBRATING AUSTRALIA'S POTATO INDUSTRY AT HORT CONNECTIONS 2017
L-R: Potato grower Michael Omodei with Michael Barker from Barkers
Fresh Produce. Images courtesy of Good Fruit and Vegetables.
L-R: Adrian Pederick MP, Potatoes South Australia CEO Robbie Davis
and Potato Growers Association of WA Executive Officer Simon Moltoni.