GB Potatoes has announced a three-year funding commitment to support the Fight Against Blight (FAB) project.
FAB is a national initiative led by the James Hutton Institute, providing situational intelligence regarding the evolving threat posed by potato late blight.
Residual levy funds
The funding, delivered through a grant from AHDB utilising the residual Potato Levy funds, will strengthen the long-term sustainability of FAB, enabling the monitoring scheme to expand and strengthen the sector’s collective resilience to late blight, says Graham Bannister of GB Potatoes.
“Importantly, this isn’t a solo effort,” he stresses. The FAB project stands as a truly powerful example of cross-industry collaboration, backed by a committed consortium of stakeholders including agribusinesses, crop protection companies, processors, distributers, and agronomy providers.
“Together, these key organisations ensure this essential work not only continues at a time when vigilance is required, but also evolves in response to new threats and demands.”
FAB Scouts
Launched in 2006, FAB has become a recognised cornerstone of the UK potato sector’s resilience strategy against late blight. The scheme relies on a collaborative network of FAB Scouts – agronomists, growers and industry professionals – who collect and submit up to 1700 field samples annually from outbreaks across the country.
With new aggressive strains entering GB and an increasing threat from fungicide-resistant genotypes, Graham says continued monitoring is more critical than ever.
“FAB provides real-time identification of blight strains while further delivering vital insights for shaping Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies through independent fungicide sensitivity screening.”
Intelligence
The work, led by Dr David Cooke and Dr Alison Lees at the James Hutton Institute, provides the potato supply chain with in-season intelligence on blight population shifts, resistance trends, and the efficacy of key fungicides. These insights help the industry respond quickly and effectively to emerging threats.
Graham adds that GB Potatoes is proud to stand alongside a committed group of industry sponsors including Certis Belchim, UPL, Bayer, BASF, Corteva, Syngenta, FMC, McCain, Albert Bartlett, Branston, Agrovista, Frontier, Agrii, SAC, Hutchinsons, ProCam, Scottish Agronomy.
“The FAB project is great example of where research meets application, it’s a lifeline for growers facing an evolving disease landscape and the project exemplifies what can be achieved when the sector truly works together for a common cause.”
For more information or to be involved as a Scout or supporter, visit: https://blight.hutton.ac.uk or email fab@hutton.ac.uk.
