Prince Edward Island's reputation around the world as a centre for potato systems knowledge and technology is creating economic opportunities for the Island. That's the conclusion following the first two years of work by Solanum-PEI, the company established by the provincial government to look for national and international opportunities to harness the Island's knowledge base around the potato industry.
"The Solanum initiative reflects our belief that our potato expertise is an important part of the knowledge economy we are developing here on Prince Edward Island," said John MacQuarrie, President of Solanum-PEI. "The potato is on the fast track to becoming one of the world's most important food crops, particularly in the developing world. For those countries working to develop their own seed systems, PEI should be positioned as a preferred supplier of all the tools they require to design and build, and fuel their own seed systems."
While emphasizing that developing new markets is work that requires patience, MacQuarrie outlined three key initiatives that are indicative of the kinds of opportunities Prince Edward Island has in the area.
Through Solanum's partnership with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Holland College, a custom learning facility called the World Potato Learning Centre is being developed. This entity will respond to the growing demand for specialized training in high quality seed potato systems. While still in the formative stage, the Centre has already held three "schools," two in Prince Edward Island and one in Romania, and was hired to operate a study tour for Bangladesh potato officials. Requests are being followed up for training potato interests from South Africa, Nepal, Romania, Cuba and Bangladesh.
Solanum has also worked with government and potato growers in Ukraine and Romania to assess existing seed potato production systems in these countries and look for opportunities for Prince Edward Island knowledge and technology. These efforts have led to the sale of Prince Edward Island seed potatoes, potato handling equipment, packaging and consultancy services.
"Because of the huge problem with Colorado potato beetles and the unsafe use of pesticides in these countries, one of the technologies demonstrated was the value of seed potato genetically improved to combat the Colorado beetle without the use of insecticides," said Mr. MacQuarrie.
He pointed out that, while Solanum has no plans to develop a formal relationship with Monsanto, the developer of the beetle-resistant seed varieties, the genetic improvement of seed potatoes through biotechnology does hold great potential for improving crop yields and nutritional value while reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
MacQuarrie acknowledged that the issue of public acceptance and labelling of genetically modified foods is a very important political debate, and not one Solanum takes lightly. "Solanum will only work with potato products and technology which have met all food safety and environmental protection standards," he said.
He said that Solanum has also worked closely with the World Health Organization's International Potato Centre to understand how current technologies may apply to problems in potato production systems in the developing world. "If we are in the potato knowledge and technology business, the appropriateness of that technology to the local situation must be considered," he said.
The third knowledge economy initiative Solanum is participating in is the Belvedere Research Group (BRG), a collaboration of the six food system research institutions in Charlottetown: the Food Technology Centre, the Centre for Animal and Plant Health, University of Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Veterinary College, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. MacQuarrie said that potato systems research is one of the research program areas being developed by BRG, and Solanum is using its international contacts to identify research project opportunities.
"We tend to take our potato systems knowledge for granted here in Prince Edward Island," said MacQuarrie. "I can tell you first hand, that Prince Edward Island's expertise is getting full marks for providing real solutions. Solanum has that 'icebreaker' role, allowing PEI products and services to flow to new markets."