AgronomyDiseasesAlberta Declared PCN Free

Alberta Declared PCN Free

-

Alberta is officially free of the potato cyst nematode (PCN) which opens trade borders for them, the government says in a news release on April 7.

PCN is a destructive pest which lives in the soil and has the potential to dramatically impact potato yields. It’s regulated under Alberta’s Agricultural Pests Act and is a federally regulated quarantine pest in Canada.

In 2007, the CFIA placed two fields in Alberta under a Notice of Prohibition after routine testing raised suspicion of the presence of PCN. With the production of potatoes in these fields halted, years of restrictions and surveillance followed across the province, the release notes.

Alberta exports the most seed potatoes in Canada, meaning PCN has led to challenges for exporting to the United States and Asia, the release notes. The government of Alberta, Potato Growers of Alberta, Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have worked together on getting it out of Alberta.

Other Alberta potato farmers were ultimately able to resume export of seed potatoes to the U.S. in January 2009, though the issue has continued to impact international market access for Alberta seed potatoes. More than a decade later, the CFIA has now removed the restrictions after the 2020 tests all came back negative.

Trending This Week

Rooted in Pride: Spirit of the Potato Industry Shines at MPPD

When I asked Susan Ainsworth what she hoped attendees would take away from the 52nd annual Manitoba Potato Production Days, without hesitation she said,...

Building Resilience: What Role Does the CPC Play in Canada’s Potato Industry?

Canadian potato growers today must continue to evolve amid a changing agricultural landscape, where sustainable practices and technological innovation are imperative for success. Understanding these...

Live From the Farm: Grandpa Heppell Shares Advice for Young Potato Growers on Instagram

When Tyler Heppell reached out to his 500,000 Instagram followers inviting them to ask his 87-year-old grandpa “anything” he couldn’t have imagined the flood...

Study Points to South America – Not Mexico – As Birthplace of Irish Potato...

0
Mystery solved. Researchers at North Carolina State University have traced the origins of the Irish potato famine pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, to the South American Andes Mountains. Through...

Driving Change in Potato Research: An Interview with Dr. Ratna Preeti Kaur of India

0
Under the umbrella of the World Potato Congress (WPC) driven Declaration of Dublin: Fostering Potato Partnerships for Food Security, each year, a portion of...