The 2024 Caythorpe Potato Breeders Demo Days, scheduled for August 28th and 29th at Heath Lane, Caythorpe, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, stands as Europe's premier outdoor event dedicated to potato varieties. Over the years, the event has expanded to a 5-hectare site and now features contributions from 12 leading breeding companies including Cygnet Potato Breeders, Grampian Growers, Caledonia Potatoes, Stet, Irish Potato Marketing Group (IPM), HZPC, Greenvale, Agrico UK, Solana UK, Norika, Germicopa UK, and Meijer Potato. This assembly attracts more than 200 UK industry professionals, spanning packers, processors, and growers.
Alistair Redpath, Director at Cygnet Potato Breeders, emphasized the event's role in showcasing both established and newly introduced varieties, noting a particular emphasis on "improved pest and disease resistance, particularly G. pallida PCN resistance and late blight resistance, low inputs, and sustainability." The Demo Days serve as a critical platform for observing and evaluating the latest in potato breeding, with an underlying focus on sustainability and resilience, mirroring the sector's commitment to addressing contemporary challenges.
As the foremost exhibition in its category, the Caythorpe Potato Breeders Demo Days are integral to the advancement of potato cultivation in the UK and beyond, facilitating a unique opportunity for industry stakeholders to engage with the forefront of potato breeding innovations.
Source: Potato News Today