Potato Industry Flags Water Security and Sustainability Issues

Industry leaders in the United Kingdom warned that reliable water access is essential for expanding domestic potato production. At the Potato Industry Growth Summit in London, representatives highlighted increasingly erratic weather patterns, past drought years and the need to capture and store water to protect yields and reduce dependence on imports. Scott Walker, chief executive of GB Potatoes, said that without dependable irrigation the sector faces reduced output, greater volatility for growers and processors, and weakened food security.

In South Africa, a sustainability panel at the Potato South Africa Congress emphasized that environmental, social and governance practices are becoming a core business strategy for growers. Standard Bank’s agribusiness head Brendan Jacobs explained that banks now evaluate climate risk, production variability and management data when lending, and that strong sustainability records improve farm profitability and access to finance. Dr. Andrea Campher added that reliable farm records boost bankability, helping farmers secure future cash flow.

Both discussions underscore the growing importance of water management and sustainable practices for the potato sector’s resilience and economic viability in the UK and South Africa.