A report from SRUC has revealed a significant 71% decline in UK fresh potato demand since the 1970s, with a shift towards alternatives like rice and pasta. Post-Brexit, the UK, and particularly Scotland, faced challenges in seed potato exports due to lost market access, impacting demand.
Scotland, known for its disease-free conditions conducive to 'high health' seed production, plays a crucial role in the UK's potato sector, contributing nearly a quarter of the UK's output. Between 2018-2020, Scottish potato production, encompassing seed and ware potatoes, was valued at approximately £245 million, indicating 6% of Scottish agricultural output and 22% of the UK's potato production.
Despite the UK importing more potato products, it remains a net exporter of seed potatoes, with Scotland accounting for 75% of the area grown in Britain. The potato industry's broader economic impact includes processed products and the supply chain, with an on-farm and upstream economic contribution of £507 million and supporting 2,880 full-time jobs in Scotland. The report underscores the sector's complexity and its significance beyond farm gate values, highlighting the importance of government support for research and development to maintain high production standards amidst threats like potato cyst nematodes and climate change.
Source: sruc.ac.uk
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