b'C anadianP otatoC ounCilWorking Together on ResearchAfter more than a decade spent developing a research network,the Canadian potato industry is now taking full advantage of funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONWHEN CANADA FIRST launched Growing Forward [now called the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP)] more than a decade ago, the potato indus- THE FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS/RESEARCH WORKING try was interested but knew they had some work to do before they could takePARTNERS ARE BROKEN DOWN BY:full advantage of the program.There was a real need for us to be able to work together to really try and leverage the joint efforts of researchers, industry resources and availableAgriculture and Agri-Food Canadafunding, Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, chair of the Canadian Potato Council Re- potato grower organizationssearch Working Group, says in a Zoom interview. Prior to that time, we werentprocessorsreally working in a structured way to do research on areas that were a commonpackerspriority to many provinces.Over the first two phases of CAP research funding the potato industrycolleges and universitiesacross Canada took part in research projects while also working on develop- provincial governmentsing a research group. While their crop counterparts had developed researchcrop protection companiesfunding systems where levies are collected when crops are sold, the potatoseed companiesindustry had not. When we put together what our proposed research is going to be, its allcompanies from other industriesthe national organizations, its the grower organizations, its processors, its allresearch funding organizationsour industry, its universities, David Jones, manager of the Canadian Potato Council (CPC), explains in a Zoom interview. To come up with our funds, its all a voluntary basis.The result was the development of the Canadian Potato Council ResearchDIDYOUKNOW?Working Group, an offshoot of the CPC which is part of the Canadian Horticul-tural Council (CHC). The CPC includes members from the eight major potatoEight potato research projects are being co-ordinated by the CPC producing provinces and is in charge of national activities which help with theResearch Working Group and being funded under the Canadian economic well-being of Canadian potato growers. The CPC Research WorkingAgricultural Partnership as part of the Canadian AgriScience Cluster for Group acts in a consultative role with the Canadian potato research communityHorticulture 3. Research projects focus on:to establish national research priorities.Potato early dying Colorado potato beetles Late blightCLUSTER THREEWhile the CPC was developing the research working group, the group was tak-ing part in the CAP cluster projects with the CHC. During the first cluster CPC realized they needed to better set their research priorities before the second cluster launched. They were able to finalize their research strategy which setViruses which cause them up for cluster two and allowed them to flourish during the third cluster. Common scab Wireworm tuber necrosisThe third cluster officially started on April 1, 2018 with the potato industry having seven research projects under the horticulture cluster as part of it, an eighth project was announced in March at the CHC annual general meeting. The cluster lasts until March 31, 2023.Were just about to start the third field season of this current cluster. So,Enhancement of the industryPotato variety theres lots of activities happening in different parts of the country on all ofthrough smart agriculture evaluationthese projects, Shinners-Carnelley says.One of the projects focuses on the development of regional management strategies and decision-making tools for control of Colorado potato beetles (CPB). Chandra Moffat with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is 30 SPUDSMART.COM SUMMER 2020'