​Episode 176: Exploring the World of Seed Potatoes with Terry Jones from Meijer Potato

In the latest episode of the Ceres Podcast, hosts Stelios and David Miller dive deep into the fascinating world of seed potatoes with Terry Jones, UK Sales Manager at Meijer Potato. While many in the industry take for granted the potatoes they receive for chipping or crisping, a highly complex, labour-intensive process behind the scenes brings new potato varieties to market. Terry offers listeners an inside look at the art and science of potato breeding, from developing new varieties to the intricate steps involved in ensuring consistency and quality across different regions and climates.

Terry explains that Meijer Potato is a Dutch-based company specialising in breeding rather than growing potatoes. Working with a network of trusted UK growers, they have developed varieties like Lady Jane, a popular choice in the fish and chip industry. Terry takes listeners through creating a new potato variety—from crossbreeding parent plants in sterile glasshouses to evaluating thousands of potential new varieties over years of testing and trialling.

One of the critical challenges discussed is the balancing act breeders face between improving yield and maintaining resistance to diseases such as blight and nematodes while catering to different regions' varied preferences. For example, some areas prefer a yellow-fleshed chip, while others demand a drier, white-fleshed potato. Meijer's breeding process allows them to cater to these preferences while ensuring their varieties withstand drought and heavy rains—an increasingly pressing issue with climate change. 

The podcast also touches on the technological advancements revolutionising the industry, from DNA marker testing to using robots to harvest potato seeds. Yet, despite these innovations, manual labour and a deep understanding of the field still play critical roles in ensuring the success of a potato variety. 

Terry also addresses the financial and time investments that go into breeding. He highlights that developing a new variety can take up to 10 years, with significant costs before any returns are seen. This lengthy process involves testing for traits like disease resistance and ensuring the potatoes meet the quality standards consumers and commercial users expect. 

Without giving too much away, this episode offers a wealth of insights into the complexities of potato breeding, the importance of working with experienced growers, and the ever-evolving challenges of agriculture. Whether you're in the potato industry or just a fan of good chips, this conversation with Terry Jones is a must-listen.