The Scottish seed industry is pushing for the resumption of seed trade with the EU, but not at all costs. Andrew Connon, chairman of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland, calls the trade barriers "purely political and completely unacceptable".
Connon made these statements during the opening of the new Scottish branch of Solana Seeds, writes Potato News Today. "The biggest challenge we face is the absence of the EU export market. More than 75% of Great Britain's (GB) seed potato exports come from Scotland and the current situation (seed potatoes from the EU are allowed to enter the UK) , but the other way around is not allowed) creates chaos among growers."
Equal conditions
The seed potato trade between the EU and GB must be equal. According to Connon, it is clear that some British growers want European seed potatoes and vice versa. "The current scheme, which runs until June, has only losers. We are working with the Scottish Government, the UK Government and Defra (the British Ministry of Agriculture, ed.) to find a lasting solution."
The leader warns that the sector should not blindly focus on a deal with the EU. Of the approximately 100.000 tonnes of seed potatoes produced in Scotland, 80.000 tonnes go to non-EU destinations. According to Connon, there is still a lot of potential for further growth in markets such as Egypt, Morocco, Israel, the Canary Islands, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
These are markets where a lot of Dutch seed potatoes are also sold. It is doubtful whether the Scots will actually become a threat to the Dutch seed potato sector. To put it in perspective: the Netherlands exported more than 2020 tons of seed potatoes in the 730.000 harvest. For example, 30.000 tons of this went to Egypt.