Spain 31/08/2023

Canary Islands search for alternative potato suppliers

 

The disruption in supply of British potatoes to the Canary Islands due to outbreak of the Colorado beetle in the UK's potato crops, and uncertainty surrounding duration of this suspension, pose a risk of shortage on the islands.

The United Kingdom is the primary potato importer in the archipelago. In 2022, it accounted for 86.37% of imports of vegetables, plants, roots, and edible tubers, according to data from the Canarian Institute of Statistics (ISTAC). 

The Canary Islands government announced its intention to compensate for the decrease in supply from the UK by sourcing potatoes from Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Libya, Malta, and even likely from Wales. The goal is to explore alternatives even within the UK, including the markets of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The regulations established through the March 12, 1987 ordinance, which outlines phytosanitary standards for the import, export, and transit of plants and related products to the Canary Islands, authorize the archipelago to search for potatoes in the aforementioned countries, along with Syria, Tunisia, and Algeria.