b'shows new detections of potato wart remainendobioticum) from Canada into the Unitedstill allowing trade, says Donald.isolated to the small area where the 2021States. The USDA uses it to consider whetherP.E.I. welcomes visitors who are interested detections took place.each identified pathway has an appropriatein learning about their potato wart risk I was always taught that when somethingcorrelated risk mitigation effort in place andmitigation efforts. USDA/APHIS reps bad happens, flip the coin and look for theputs in regulation, such as the Federal Order,have visited several times, an International opportunity thats on the other side. Theto ensure this is the case. Panel of potato wart experts visited in 2022 opportunity here is that we are the safest [Its purpose is that] a regulator looks atand provided recommendations for future place in the world to buy potatoes from rightit and says, Okay, heres risk one. Whatsmanagement and, last spring, Canadian now from a plant health perspective becausebeen done to overcome that one? Check.Potato Council representatives from across we do so much soil sampling, we have soRisk two; whats been done to overcome thatCanada visited. much surveillance, we have second-to-noneone? Check, says Donald. Having industry people and experts biosecurity measures and excellent recordfrom across the country and around the keeping in place, says Donald.world visit and provide input has been so Though the movement of seed potatoespositive, says Donald. Seeing firsthand from P.E.I. within North America remainshow were managing it really gives people severely restricted until surveillance andconfidence.testing data is better understood, P.E.I.Potato wart is just one of multiple has market confidence domestically andregulated quarantine pests that have to be internationally for its fresh market potatoes,managed between trading partners. he adds.We have confidence in our regulator and Other than the period when our borderin the good work done by CFIA. We also was closed, weve had no problem selling ourhave confidence in the regulator in the U.S., potatoes. Our customers are confident inthat theyll do their job to ensure potatoes our product too. shipped from Idaho to Canada dont carry in Potato wart is a soil borne pest that is[an infectious pathogen like PCN], another controlled around the world through thesoil borne quarantine pest, says Donald. use of quarantine measures. It was foundCFIA will soon be coming out with a in Newfoundland in 1909, Pennsylvaniarevised National Response Plan for Potato in 1918 and later confirmed in MarylandWart. The new report is expected to endorse and West Virginia. It is thought potatothe risk mitigation measures currently in wart came to North America on potatoesplace and suggest changes to help better imported from Europe. All infestedmanage the pest and work towards its areas were regulated through quarantineGreg Donald, general manager of the Princeeradication in P.E.I.measures. Newfoundland remainsEdward Island Potato Board. Eradiation of potato wart was successful quarantined, but quarantine and eradicationin the United States, and we expect it efforts in the United States were reportedThe bottom line is that every appropriatecan also be successful in P.E.I., too, says to be successful. The last detection inmitigation effort has been put in place, soDonald.Maryland, in 1987, resulted in considerableevery identified threat in the Risk PathwaysThis isnt the first time P.E.I.s potato soil and bioassay testing and MarylandReport does, in fact, have an appropriateindustry has weathered challenge and, via was declared free of potato wart in 1994.solution. intensive effort, come out ahead. The needle Potato wart was detected in Prince EdwardSeed potatoes from P.E.I. are nottampering in 2014 is a prime example: P.E.I. Island in 2000 and has also been containedcurrently allowed to enter the United States.became the first place in the world to add through quarantine measures. Fresh potatoes leave here without any soil.metal detection to fresh market potatoes, P.E.I. fresh potatoes currently move toTheyre from fields without anything to dotaking them from a market perception the United States under the conditionswith wart. On top of that they have sproutof risky and vaulting them to the safest of the new United States Department ofnipping so they cant be planted as seed. Andpotatoes in the world for metal tampering. Agriculture (USDA) Federal Order that wastheyre going to a fresh market so theyreThe single most important message to put in place in April 2022. The conditionsgoing to be consumed. Thats like check,the rest of the countrys potato producers? of the Federal Order take into accountcheck, check, says Donald.Today its P.E.I., tomorrow it could be your information from the USDA.Potatoes moving across Canada followprovince or your field. If theres confusion about PEIs mitigationregulations outlined in the currentIts not as if potato wart is the only issue. efforts, it likely stems from misunderstandingCanadian Ministerial Order which, similarWeve had similar issues in other provinces about the purpose of USDAs Pathwayto the U.S. Federal order, requires that freshin the past. Everyone worked together to Analysis Report. That report is an assessmentpotatoes be washed and sprout inhibited.work through them, and were all better which evaluates the potential introductionAppropriate risk mitigation measures arepositioned now, says Donald. Were all in of potato wart (causal agent Synchytriumin place to protect the potato industry whileit together. 24SPUDSMART.COMSpring 2024'