Officials with the Eagle, Idaho-based Idaho Potato Commission participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Seed Potato Germplasm Laboratory.
The laboratory is located at the University of Idaho’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, according to a news release.
The $5.3 million laboratory was funded by the commission and several other contributors.
The facility will address the greater demand for disease-free plantlets and mini-tubers in several ways, according to the release:
- Size: The larger facility will allow more plantlets and mini-tubers to be studied, increasing plant production by three times over the next five years.
- Greenhouse production reduction: Allow growers to reduce their current greenhouse production of mini-tubers, ultimately saving them time and money.
- Biosafety: The laboratory is located in the new building to ensure biosafety. The healthy plants/seedlings will be isolated from research being conducted on potato pathogens.
- Increased cold storage capacity: This allows for greater production of current varieties to meet the industry needs while supporting the increased development of new varieties.
“The Idaho Potato Commission’s investment in the Seed Potato Germplasm Laboratory is critical to the future of the Idaho potato,” Jamey Higham, president and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission, said in the release. “We’ve got the smartest minds in agriculture, devoting 100% of their time studying the potato and researching ways to improve yield, develop new varieties and identify ways to protect the potato from known and unknown pathogens.”
In 2021, Idaho growers harvested over 314,000 acres of Famous Potatoes, representing over one-third of all potatoes grown in the U.S., according to the report.
It’s estimated that the Idaho potato industry, including the processors, growers, fresh pack shippers and support industry, generates approximately $5 billion in revenue.
