Professor Ian Toth, Director of the National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC) and the Scottish Plant Health Centre at the James Hutton Institute, has been appointed President of the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) in recognition of his 35 years of pioneering work in potato research.
According to a press release from the James Hutton Institute, for the next three years Professor Toth will lead the Association, which is made up of more than 200 individual members and other continuing members, with a network spanning Europe and beyond.
For the next three years, Professor Toth will lead the Association, which comprises over 200 individual members and many continuing members, with a network that stretches across Europe and beyond.
Under his leadership, EAPR will intensify its efforts to promote the global exchange of scientific and technical knowledge on all aspects of potato breeding, production, protection, storage and utilization, the release said.
Mr Toth will also oversee the EAPR triennial conference, due to be held in Scotland in 2027, which will showcase Scotland's excellent potato production and highlight the country's many other achievements. As NPIC Director, he has guided the centre's mission to work with national and international partners to discover new sustainable solutions for the potato industry.
In his new role, Toth will continue working with the International Potato Partnership (IPP), which was recently launched at this year's World Potato Congress and aims to strengthen global collaboration in potato research and industry.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with scientists from the EAPR network, who are known for driving innovation in potato research across Europe,” Toth said.
“It is more important than ever that scientists and researchers come together to overcome the many challenges threatening the potato industry, such as climate change and the loss of plant protection products. We look forward to integrating the groundbreaking research at the James Hutton Institute with the advances being made in our research networks around the world.”
