The seed potato sector in the United Kingdom still has 10 weeks before exports to Europe and Northern Ireland will face a complete export ban. That is if no trade deal is struck between Britain and the European Union. It creates uncertainty among British seed potato growers.
Every winter, Great Britain exports around 30.000 tonnes of seed potatoes, worth almost €15 million, to mainland Europe. Now that there is no Brexit deal yet, Great Britain will be classified by the European Union as a so-called 'third world country'. And for those countries, specific agreements must be concluded before business can be done with the continent. For example, crops and products must comply with the phytosanitary rules of the European Union. To date, Britain has taken no action to conclude such an agreement.
This could have significant consequences for British seed potato exports. Exports usually continue until March, but this season everything has to be shipped within the few weeks until December 31st. Insiders call it almost impossible. “Transporting thousands of tonnes of potatoes over hundreds of kilometers is complicated,” said Alexander James McGowan of Scotland's Cygnet PEP. "75% of the 12.000 hectares of seed potatoes in the United Kingdom are grown in Scotland and account for 80% of exports. It means that we have to deploy hundreds of trucks during the Christmas period. That is a very big challenge logistically."
That is not the only concern for British seed potato growers. It is expected that exports with Northern Ireland will also be banned no deal Brexit. This is because Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland share a border. This means that the phytosanitary conditions of the European Union apply.
Where should all those potatoes go?
If we manage to export all those potatoes in such a short period, the next question arises as to where everything should be stored. Not only in the European Union, but also in countries outside the European Union. The United Kingdom sends another 90.000 tons of seed potatoes, worth more than €35 million, to other destinations. Although the pressure is less great, because a number of important trade agreements (for example those with Egypt) are already known to be adopted.
According to Archie Gibson, executive director of Agrico UK, the biggest concern is mainly about applying for an agreement with the European Union. "It could take months or even longer before the United Kingdom receives permission to export to the European Union. This would significantly hinder the 2021 export season," he said. "In the absence of the United Kingdom, European customers may turn to other countries (such as the Netherlands, France and Germany). It will be difficult to win those customers back."
Not only exports, but also imports at risk?
Initially there was also the fear that the import of seed potatoes would be banned, but that fear has now been dispelled. This is because a deal has in principle been concluded with the European Union that allows imports until at least June 2021. Currently, around 35.000 tonnes are exported to the United Kingdom from the European Union every year. The Netherlands exported no less than 2019 tons of seed potatoes to the continent in 15.444. Over the past few years, the average has been 18.500 tons.
Imports are also vital for British seed potato growers. The British market cannot supply itself with seed potato varieties, because they are dependent on research into new properties and disease resistance. This is mainly done in countries such as the Netherlands. In short: an import ban would not only have been a significant loss for the United Kingdom, but would also have been a major setback for Dutch seed potato houses. To date, however, this is the only bright spot for British seed potato growers.