Industry Position
Potato Industry Supply Chain
The Australian Potato Industry consists of a highly integrated supply chain.
The beginning enables a broad industry end point – the retail level where consumers are able to purchase potato in its various forms as either fresh or processed product.
To allow a strong and vibrant retail industry, consumer demands must be met. Market research, sales trends and international patterns all influence how consumer preferences are considered and managed which then determines how the supply chain is driven.
Enabling the desired end point in Australia requires all levels of the industry to work together and Solan’s position is primarily in the very early stages of the industry. Solan supplies Generation Zero (Gen O)Mini Tubers to Australian Seed Growers for on selling to potato producers for wholesale, processing and fresh markets.
Potatoes South Australia is the peak representative body for the potato industry in South Australia. They provide a range of relevant value-adding quality services to their members, stakeholders and the broader industry to foster growth and development at every link of the value chain. Solan is a member of Potatoes South Australia.
Solan works with a range of stakeholders in Australia as well as internationally. All stakeholders within the supply chain must work within the guidelines set for the industry as stated by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Biosecurity and AUSVEG
Overview – The Process of new potato cultivar introduction to Australia from an International Breeder to a PBR holder.
1. Nominated PBR Holder organises shipment of potato tissue to AQIS.
AQIS holds tissue in quarantine whilst carrying out testing for diseases/pathogens.
The time frame for this is between 3 and 6 months, dependent on the source the tissue has been sent from.
2. Once cleared the tissue is able to be released to an approved source.
3. Solan will receive released in-vitro tissue.
4. Once the potato tissue arrives at Solan it will be processed in the tissue culture laboratory and introduced into the Solan’s germplasm collection.
5. Solan follows further instructions as provided by the PBR Holder
Instructions vary, but can consist of all or parts of the following directions.
a) Multiplication of plantlets for Mini Tuber Production – Potato tissue will be cultured in the laboratory into small plantlets for release to the production nursery to produce ‘Gen O’ mini tubers.
b) Processing In-vitro Tissue for Part 2 PBR Trial work in the production nursery.
The aim of the Part 2 PBR Trials is to confirm the variety undergoing PBR is distinct, uniform and stable.
The same process occurs when a new variety is introduced from within Australia. Where a Part 2 Trial has been successfully completed, the PBR Holder will instruct Solan on further requirements for their cultivar. Applications for PBR are submitted to IP Australia. IP Australia maintain a data base on the applications and their status for PBR registration. They also provide information on the process on applying for PBR status.
c) Authorization to hold as backup cultivar material for another approved tissue culture facility.
Solan’s Structure
The Structure at Solan consists of
1. Tissue Culture Laboratory
2. Production Nursery – ‘Gen O’ Mini tuber Production and CTC (Centralised Testing Centre – conducting Part 2 PBR Trial Work )
3. Genetic Resource Centre –Public and licensed varieties held within dedicated storage cabinet for purposes of Mini production and as additional source material other laboratories.
4. Onsite Storage facility for mini tubers. – Tubers produced in the nursery will be held onsite in Solan’s Cool Store Facility until instructed by clients to dispatch the mini tubers to their seed growers.
Governing Bodies
There are interactions with various governing bodies as shown in the diagram which oversee the industry standards at all levels of the Potato Industry in Australia.
Solan works under the Standards set by AUSVEG – Peak Industry Authority ultimately responsible for the administration and operation of the Australian National Standard Certification of Seed Potatoes NatStand04. The certifying body for the standards set by AUSVEG varies throughout each State.
South Australia is certified through the Victorian Certified Seed Authority Incorporated (VICSPA)
AQIS and AgriBio follow standards enforced by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
Together, we contribute to providing potato growers within Australia, certified potato seed.