LAUNCHING the consultation on the Potato Council’s 2013-16 business plan amid the most challenging potato season in history, chairman Allan Stevenson told delegates at the industry’s biennial seed event in Crieff, Scotland, that the council’s role is to keep an eye on the horizon and deliver a plan that develops a sustainable and profitable sector.

He said: “Delivering greater sustainability and profitability will be very difficult if we allow ourselves to return to structural over-production in 2013 and beyond.

“Two extreme seasons in a row have created heightened tensions in our weaker supply chains and big losses for many growers and purchasers.

These goals can only be achieved in a balanced marketplace.

“The Potato Council cannot control the weather, we cannot control planting levels, we cannot set prices, nor can we determine consumer demand.

“However, our corporate plan will support all our levy payers whatever our marketplace delivers for us.”

“I call upon industry leaders to join the Potato Council in the new year at a summit, where we will explore current challenges in more detail and commit to developing solutions.”

The plan captured the thoughts of more than 90 industry players who serve on PCL committees and develop PCL’s functional activities and focused on agreed priorities, including addressing the apparent yield plateau, developing better storage, securing plant health, supporting seed, countering fresh decline and supporting processing.

Dr Rob Clayton, Potato Council director, summarised PCL’s approach to funding the plan: “When industry feels pain, so does the council. We have seen a reduction in revenue in 2012 with less area planted and fewer potatoes traded and we have already made a commitment to peg levies at current levels.

“All PCL staff and board members have responded well to the challenge and have identified efficiencies in the front line and support services.

“We’re confident that, from showcasing the UK through WPC2012, delivering against an agreed R&D strategy, addressing storage issues and working in partnership on consumer signposting, our business plan remains on track and we are wellplaced to deliver in the future.”