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Tasmanian-based Agronico shifted focus to 'all things mini tubers and seed potatoes'

Over three decades, Agronico has shifted its focus from an agriculture consultancy business to all things mini tubers and seed potatoes. The business is always aiming to improve and is currently working on a five-year plan to enhance customer experience, while offering world-class procedures and facilities for seed potato storage.

Tasmania's fertile soil is ideal for growing healthy vegetables as well as producing potatoes that are high quality and disease-free. There is plenty of virgin ground available, especially in irrigation areas newly opened by the Tasmanian Government. Tasmanian-based business Agronico recognizes the Apple Isle's ideal conditions for growing quality potatoes. Over 30 years, it has grown from an agricultural consultancy business – working with individual farmers – into one of Australia’s largest seed potato producers.

Today, it continues to develop the science of seed potato propagation through investment in tissue culture, hydroponics, seed processing, and cool store technology. “By growing potato mini tubers hydroponically, we get a more uniform tuber size, the system is predictable, and we can fulfill ordered volumes more consistently.”

“Our team of researchers work primarily in the seed potato industry but also cover broccoli, chemical registrations, and new crops, running trials all year-round.” Keeping everything top-notch is important. Agronico prides itself on world-class seed potato handling procedures, aiming for minimal harvesting and grading damage," says Robert Graham.

With 18 rooms in total, the cool stores can hold up to 16,000 tons and achieve maximum efficiency by being located next to the grading and cutting lines. Trucks can be loaded in the large drive-through corridor in the center of the storage shed, ideal for loading in wet weather. Robert Graham: “We can now transport potatoes directly from Tasmanian paddocks for grading and then to the facility for storage in optimum conditions. The cool stores enable varietal control, aid manageable volumes of seed, and this handling process minimizes the aging of seeds leading to good stem count per sett and higher yields.”

Read the complete article at www.potatpro.com.

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