Crop Protection Cuts Tighten Grip On Potato Growers

The UK potato sector has renewed its warnings over the mounting impact of chemical withdrawals on both field production and storage resilience, with growers now confronting the removal of key crop protection tools amid a backdrop of declining planted acreage and tighter supply chain margins.

At the British Potato Event in Harrogate, growers and industry stakeholders underscored how the withdrawal of crucial plant protection products is intensifying operational challenges for an industry already navigating structural pressures — including reducing acreage and slim margins for growers.

A stark example is the recent withdrawal of mancozeb, a widely used fungicide for blight control. GB Potatoes confirmed that efforts to secure an emergency authorisation to continue using the substance in 2026 have been abandoned after consultations with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded limited use would be commercially unviable.

“This decision means growers will enter the 2026 season without access to what has been a staple tool for managing late blight and resistance pressure,” industry sources say.

Meanwhile, pressure is also mounting around potato storage infrastructure following the withdrawal of the sprout suppressant chlorpropham (CIPC), which was effectively banned for use several years ago and now remains only via a temporary Maximum Residue Level (tMRL) to enable continued use of historic storage facilities.

A recent industry report to the HSE’s Chemical Regulation Division highlighted detectable CIPC residues in a small proportion of store samples — all within the temporary limit — and stressed that continued monitoring is critical to maintaining storage capacity. Without sufficient residue data, many stores at risk of exceeding standard detection thresholds could be taken out of use, placing further strain on the supply chain.

As the sector adapts to an increasingly restricted crop protection toolkit, growers are having to rethink disease control strategies and storage management in order to maintain quality and supply continuity — a balancing act that will shape the industry’s resilience in the seasons ahead.