May/June 2022 - 25

Ukraine, it's a difficult time for so many
people to have to flee the country, he
added. It's possible many will not be
able to plant potatoes at all.
To make matters more challenging,
Porter anticipates a much smaller crop
in Europe this year as well, as planting
area is expected to drop by 2.5%. Potato
prices are low, and grain prices are up,
which means some growers are likely to
shift focus. " It's a fairly intensive crop in
terms of fertilizer and fuel, " he said.
Data shows that planting area in
the U.S. may be lower this year as well,
Porter said.
Fertilizer availability and cost will
also be a challenge. Currently, it costs
European growers €1,000/tonne (about
$1,080) for ammonium nitrate when it
was less than half of that before. Two to
three years ago, it was a quarter of that,
said Porter.
Labor will also be an issue, especially
in Europe, he said, as many European
and UK potato producers rely on
seasonal workers from Eastern Europe.
Under the UK's seasonal worker scheme,
two-thirds of the 30,000 laborers hired
A transport in the Ukraine carrying potatoes. Photo: Nick Gordiichuk
last year were Ukrainian, said Porter.
Many of those potential workers have
been commissioned to fight the war at
home, though, meaning they won't be
available to work.
Finally, Porter expects potato
processors will be challenged by the
rising cost and shortage of sunflower
oil in the coming year. Ukraine is the
biggest producer of sunflower oil in
the world. Reports show sunflower oil
stores will run out in a month or so.
Porter said the shortage could spur a
more economical and efficient solution.
" Necessity is often the mother of
invention, " he said. " Maybe we start to
use all these resources and costs and
fertilizers more efficiently. "
" But doing that in one season is quite
a big ask, " he concluded.
Spudman * May/June 2022
25

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