Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of the potato industry on their capacity to increase the amount of potatoes grown for (a) consumption and (b) consumption as processed foods.

In the last three months, officials have met regularly with industry representatives such as the Potato Processors Association, the Snack, Nut and Crisp Manufacturers Association, and the Fresh Potato Suppliers Association. Discussions on how best to develop the industry are ongoing. I am keen that officials maintain this high level of engagement with potato industry representatives.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) highlights the scope for the UK potato industry to increase its capacity through import substitution and increasing exports by providing a better value product to the supply chain in their ‘What might Brexit mean for UK trade in Potato Products?’ report. The AHDB dedicate 57% of AHDB – Potatoes’ levy expenditure to meet this challenge through targeted research and knowledge exchange programmes.

Potato growers have access to Defra’s Rural Development Countryside Productivity scheme which aims to encourage and improve farm and forestry businesses, including those in the arable and horticulture sectors, to invest in a range of equipment to help improve their productivity and competitiveness.