French fry, fresh market and chipping varieties weren’t the only things showcased at the National Potato Variety Evaluation Trial Program this week.
The Lethbridge Polytechnic Research Demonstration Farm was also squarely in the spotlight as a first-time host of the trials since the institution’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship took over management of the 385-acre facility from the province in 2020.
Dr. Chandra Singh, Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) chair and Advanced Post-harvest Technology Centre director, says Alberta ranks as Canada’s top potato producer and the industry has a substantial footprint in southern Alberta. The trials are vital, he says, to help develop potato varieties that are sustainable in their efficient use of water and fertilizer, resistant to disease and drought, and produce high yield and quality.
“We hope to generate some meaningful data from the trial to help select the varieties which will be good for Alberta, good for the processors, good for the farmers and good for the industry,” says Singh. “We have good land, we have good equipment and we have the trained staff to do the trial.”
Much of the success of the potato trials at the research demonstration farm just east of Lethbridge – and the polytechnic’s applied research overall – will come as a result of collaboration and engagement with those in the industry, he adds. That includes the support of Dr. Michele Konschuh of the University of Lethbridge, who has more than two decades of experience in irrigated crops and trials including her previous time with Alberta Agriculture. She provides continuity in the process, as well as the summer students involved in the Lethbridge trials. Singh says there will be future opportunities for Lethbridge Polytechnic students to be involved at the farm, both in trials and other research work, which will provide them with hands-on experience and training beneficial to finding work in the industry.
This year’s trial offered almost 40 varieties of potatoes from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) national breeding program, and more than a dozen industry entries. Decision makers from the potato industry attending this week’s field day had the opportunity to evaluate displays of freshly dug potato varieties they may be interested in commercializing. The event was also an opportunity to network with those involved in the trials, including Dr. David De Koeyer, a research scientist with AAFC who leads the national potato breeding program.
Producers, processors and members of the public attending the event could cast a vote for People’s Choice winners in French fry, chipping and fresh market categories. Grading in areas including size, weight, specific gravity, and defects and deformities is done following the fall harvest. The data is then shared with the stakeholders involved and trial potatoes returned to industry partners.
Konschuh says pest and disease resistance were top of mind when developing new varieties of potatoes in the past. That still applies, but due to advances in the potato processing industry, including year-round operation, the ability for spuds to be stored over prolonged periods is vital. There’s also a growing consumer demand for sustainable foods. In the case of potatoes, that means varieties which require less water, nitrogen and fungicides are especially attractive. Climate change has also entered the conversation.
“We’re looking for varieties that are less demanding on the producer and more resilient in changing environmental conditions. And now we're looking for potatoes that might be able to tolerate heat stress and a little bit of drought,” she says. “We still grow some of the varieties we've already had, but we're looking for things that can replace them; potatoes that are going to be easier to grow or less expensive to grow, and will allow us to have a smaller environmental footprint as well.”
Lethbridge Polytechnic placed 11th in the 2023 Research Infosource ranking of Canada’s top 50 research colleges. Research in agriculture, food and environment is one of five research themes in the polytechnic’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE). To see highlights of CARIE’s work, download a copy of the centre’s latest annual report.