The Australian potato industry is vital for the nation’s economy but soil-borne diseases are a critical issue that can cause major problems.

To mark International Day of the Potato, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) and Hort Innovation have announced details of a new research project to establish a disease management program for the Australian potato industry.

The $4.2 million Hort Innovation funded project is in collaboration with the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, the South Australian Research and Development Institute and Simplot.

“Soil-borne diseases are a major production constraint to the Australian potato industry as they increase the costs associated with crop management, reduce yield and ultimately impact profitability for the grower,” said Professor Calum Wilson, who will lead the five-year project.

“Tackling diseases that are impacting the Australian potato industry has been identified as a critical issue and a key research priority by the industry.”

A team of researchers will focus on combating soil-borne disease such as powdery scab disease, pink rot, blackleg, common scab, black dot, verticillium and Rhizoctonia.

“We will develop a program to address these diseases focussing on diagnostics, including new and improved diagnostic testing to detect diseases. This will include development of new tools for detection and identification of disease,” Professor Wilson said.

“We’ll focus on new disease management solutions, strategies to prevent infection, and build new knowledge on a range of topics including soil health.

International Day of the Potato is an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and this year’s theme is ‘shaping history, feeding the future’ which recognises the important role of the potato as a vital food source around the world.

Professor Wilson said that globally potatoes are the third most important food staple after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, with annual production exceeding 320 million tonnes.

In Australia nearly 1.5 million tonnes of potatoes are produced each year. In Tasmania potatoes have a farm gate value of $370 million.

“Plant disease costs millions of dollars each year as they can reduce crop productivity, increase the costs of production, and or impact on the ability to trade both locally and internationally,” Professor Wilson said.

This project (PT23002) has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the potato industry research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.