2019 POTATOES USA RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT
Objective:
Learn about the 2019 accomplishments of the Potato Research Advisory Committee, the National Chip Program and the National Fry Processors Trial.
Highlights:
- Convening a working group, Potatoes USA and collaborators overcame a longstanding barrier in the National Fry Processor Trials by developing a strategy to bring disease-free seed into Maine, ensuring improved data collection and variety assessment.
- The Potatoes USA Research team drove communications and outreach campaigns for a research project led by the University of Wisconsin that aims to revolutionize potato breeding through diploid genetics.
- Several new promising varieties made further headway in the National Chip Program, advancing through field trials and laboratory analysis to reach pre-commercial stages.
- Following the re-launch of the Potato Sustainability Alliance, Potatoes USA staff stepped up to fill seats on steering committees focused on creating a common set of benchmarks around nutrient and pesticide management, greenhouse gas mitigation, soil health, and grower profitability.