This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

This project supported the attendance of eight potato industry representatives at the March 2004 World Potato Congress and China Study Tour. The Congress delegates were addressed on a wide range of topics and visited farms, factories, markets, research establishments and met with Government officials.

The topics included in this report were, achieving sustainability in potato production, breeding for low input potato varieties, erosion control - successful experiences on Prince Edward Island, environmentally friendly crop protectants - listen to the kookaburras, successful experiences in seed promotion, impact of consumer trends on potato consumption, processed potato product promotions, successful experiences in table potato promotion, information and competitiveness, the present and prospect of potato industrial development in China, development of potato industry and prospects, biotechnology in potato breeding of China, developing potato industry in Inner Mongolia, overview of transgenic potatoes and their biosafety in China, status of potato processing sector in China at the time and the way out for future development, agricultural tour, visit to the Heilongjiang Department of Agriculture, organic China, Harbin Economic Development Zone, visit to Technico, Kunming, meeting with Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, visit to Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, effects of climatic changes on the weather and implications for global production, world water supplies, were the adequate global initiatives in late blight, regional reports, British Potato Council - past and present, changing to meet current needs, global trends in demand, production and research, biotechnology, its role in future global potato production, environmental and food safety issues of GM potatoes.