Scotland’s chief plant health officer, Professor Gerry Saddler, told the Scottish Agronomy conference in Perth that there may be scope for Scotland to establish a seed potato arrangement with the EU similar to that enjoyed by the Canadians.

Canada has a limited relationship in which only certain varieties from certain provinces, mostly Prince Edward Island, can trade with a small number of selected EU states, including Portugal, Cyprus and Greece.

While Professor Saddler admitted negotiations remained 'very, very difficult' and this model would be short of the ideal, it could be a template for Scotland to resume exports to the EU.

“An idea similar to this has not been dismissed by the EC and we may see this get underway from 2023. We would, however, like to get back into the complete market and have no restrictions in terms of varieties – and to see the whole of Scotland included, rather than some regional agreement.”

Following the loss of AHDB Potatoes, Professor Saddler indicated an announcement was imminent from Scottish Government on short-term funding for certain vital services previously provided by the potato levy. These would include a continuation of the Fight Against Blight programme, aphid monitoring and applications for emergency approval of pesticides.

Read more: Scots MPs call for seed potatoes to be freed from Brexit red tape

“The Scottish Government has recognised that if all the work were to stop from the end of March this year, losing those early warning systems would impact seriously on the industry. But this will only be short term funding, the industry has to sort this out for itself and take it forward,” said Professor Saddler.

He added that he was aware of various grower-led initiatives which might result in new non-statutory organisations for the sector.

On the recently announced soil sampling scheme for Scotland, which will offer up to £30 per ha for sampling on Region 1 land, Professor Saddler believed it was unlikely it will include testing for potato cyst nematode (PCN). The scheme was still at design stage, but would likely concentrate on nutrient content and organic matter content.

Questioned on the approval for gene-edited crops, Professor Saddler – who is also chief executive of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) – anticipated that Scottish ministers would weigh up a number of factors, of which science would be only one.

Consumer acceptance and how it would impact the image of ‘Scotland plc’ as a green and healthy environment, would inevitably be taken into account, as would a desire within Scottish Government to align with EU, rather than UK policies.