Potatolink: What are the right choices to make?

Image: Daly Potato Co

We know that potatoes are a nutritional and health-conscious food choice with a rich heritage as a food staple in Australia and beyond. Potatoes are highly efficient converters of water, nutrients and sun energy.

As consumers think more about their food and what a ‘nutritional food choice’ means for them, potato growers worldwide are already navigating where their production, sustainability and profitability fit in.

“The 12th World Potato Congress in South Australia recently drew producers together to discuss the transformation of agrifood systems that is underway across the supply chain”, said Dr Doris Blaesing, RMCG (part of the Resilient Farming Tas Team).  “Pulling this back to a local context means that Tasmanian potato growers want to be ready to make changes to production systems with a focus on all aspects of sustainability and resilience”.

The Resilient Farming Tas Team had a chance to touch base with Ruby Daly, Daly Farms, who had just returned from the Potato Congress. “Growing about 6,000 tonnes of potatoes a year and using as much of the crop as we are able to has led us to focus on a range of business development activities over time, including value add.  It’s taught us that you can never stop learning if you want to get the most out of your farming business”, said Ruby. 

The Resilient Farming Tas Program provides a great opportunity to share knowledge on sustainability, climate, land management, and other farming dynamics including finding and keeping key people, succession planning, and which technology choice is the right one for the business. 

“Participating in the Program is simple and will provide you with a Farm Business Resilience Plan focussed on the most important challenges you need to manage in your farm business”.  We are currently planning a cohort focused on potatoes, which will provide access to one-on-one farm visit, coaching, as well as workshops, field days, and learning  resources to choose from”, said Doris.

More information on how to participate and get a program introduction can be found on the Resilient Farming Tas website emailing bst@rmcg.com.au or by calling 03 5441 4821.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Tasmanian Government’s Rural Business Resilience Package.