Water abstraction reforms, plant health services costs and supply chain relationships are just some of the challenges the NFU's Potato Forum will tackle in the next year, it has been announced.

Each year the forum decides on what issues it will lobby on over the next 12 months, and this year's priorities include ensuring there is a sensible approach to water abstraction licences during drought conditions; a need to limit the cost to the industry of FERA's plant health services as well as support of the NFU’s Catalyst for Change supply chain report.

Other objectives include achieving a common nematicide stewardship scheme, advising members on carbon footprinting, supporting promotional campaigns for fresh potatoes and raising the profile for GM potatoes.

NFU Potato Forum chairman Tim Papworth said: "There are a range of issues we will be addressing but work has already begun and I’m confident we can make significant progress over the next 12 months."

NFU Potato Forum vice chairman Alex Godfrey said: "These priorities complement the work being undertaken by the NFU horticulture and potatoes board and together we hope we can address some of the current and long standing issues faced in the horticulture and potatoes industries."

Full details of the Potato Forum priorities can be found here.