Sarvari Research Trust looking for funding

[Jayb]

It seems the Sarvari Research Trust is short of funds in order to continue with their outstanding work with blight resistant potato varieties. I think most veggie growers have all heard of the Sarpo varieties they have bred if not grown one or more of them.It seems a shame they are not more widely accepted, but one reason perhaps is commercial potato farmers have an assortment of sprays to use against blight, must be big money in sprays?

From Horticultureweek's site "Shortfall in take-up of blight-resistant potato variety leaves Sarvari Research Trust in jeopardy.
Failure to gain widespread acceptance of its conventionally bred blight-resistant potato varieties is putting the future of a Welsh research establishment in jeopardy.
"We have spent ten years getting to this point, and now we are stuck," said Sarvari Research Trust director of research Dr David Shaw.
"We have struggled to get accepted - no one will grow our varieties on a large scale because the supermarkets don't want them. We have bred primarily for blight resistance, but they don't value that. They say: 'Can you match our favourite varieties?' Ours are not as uniform and have a less shiny finish. We have been conditioned into thinking that they have to be beautiful."
http://www.hortweek.com/news/1147347/Research-body-faces-uncertain-future/ I'm not sure if this link will work if not google "Research body faces uncertain future" and look for Horticulture week's site.

Fund raising is with buzzbnk https://www.buzzbnk.org/ProjectDetails.aspx?projectId=84

[Jayb]

[Jayb]

Sarvari Trust only have 5 days left to raise funds to reach their target.

[Jayb]

Two days left and £590 needed to reach their target. Must admit some of the Sarpo varieties are a bit floury for my taste. But after another year with Late blight so prevalent, I hope they reach the mark.

[galina]

Sarvari Trust only have 5 days left to raise funds to reach their target.

They made it - just!  Brilliant.  And they ask that everybody support them further and consider buying some Sarpo seed potatoes to help a little further.

We have just been selecting nice roasting potatoes for our Christmas dinner and the Sarpos are looking very good.  They will be fine for months yet.