Potato industry members from around the country have gathered in Melbourne to celebrate the art of growing potatoes, with a great turn-out at the 2018 Potato Industry Conference held last week.

Around 150 delegates converged on the Arts Centre in Melbourne from 12-14 August to attend the biennial conference, which was hosted by seed potato certification authority ViCSPA – which is now rebranding to AuSPICA (Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority) to better reflect its expanding service coverage.

The event brought together growers, researchers, industry associations, potato processors and supply chain members for two days of sharing knowledge, exploring technology and making new connections across the Australian potato industry.

With a packed program of presentations, the conference covered the big issues affecting the Australian sector: integrated pest management practices; seed treatment; potato storage; managing diseases like common scab and powdery scab; and maintaining and improving soil health.

World-leading international speakers captured the audience’s imagination, like Dr Andrew Robinson (Extension Potato Agronomist at North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota) and Chris Claridge (CEO of Potatoes New Zealand), who offered their insight into the American and New Zealand potato industries and what Australia can learn from their experiences, including management of the tomato potato psyllid. Dr Steve Johnson, a Crop Specialist from the University of Maine, also appeared at the conference via video link.

The event also featured domestic experts and leading industry figures, such as AUSVEG Chair Bill Bulmer and CEO James Whiteside, who took part in a panel about the state of the potato industry. The panel generated robust discussion about the sector – from how levy funds are being spent and where they could be allocated to what the industry can do to increase its collaboration and communication.

At the Gala Dinner held on Monday 13 August, 14-year-old Laticia Tymensen, daughter of Victorian potato growers Lisa and Wayne Tymensen, spoke about her battle with osteosarcoma – an aggressive bone cancer that she was diagnosed with when she was just 12.

Laticia has overcome the odds and is now in remission. To help other children battling cancer, a fundraiser was held in conjunction with the Gala Dinner for Laticia’s charity of choice: My Room.

My Room raises money for childhood cancer research, clinical care, family support and, to improve the quality of life for children with cancer. Conference delegates raised an incredible $27,730 to support the work of My Room – more than double the amount raised at the same event two years ago.

This is a great result, and AUSVEG would like to congratulate AuSPICA on raising such a huge sum of money and on hosting another successful industry conference.

We’ll be covering the event in more detail in the October/November edition of Potatoes Australia, so stay tuned!

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 21 August 2018. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!