A popular biostimulant brand among potato growers will make its debut at this year’s British Potato Show in Harrogate. At the November event, Algifol, a seaweed-based biostimulant, will be at booth 123A in Hall 1.

Algifol, a product Marcus Palmer of MJP Supplies introduced to the UK, has been shown to help potatoes develop stronger root systems, increase their disease resistance, and endure extremely hot and cold temperatures.

Brown algae are used to make Algifol by Neomed Pharma, which collects the seaweed from the ocean, dries, and refines it using unique techniques to maximize its abundance of natural trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides, and growth-regulating plant hormones.

Visitors to the British Potato Show 2023 will also be the first to hear the results of several field trials that have been undertaken this year.

“Over the last couple of years, we have seen our sales increase dramatically. The sharp rise in the cost of fertilizers, interest in using natural products, and recommendations from customers have all played their part in increasing our turnover. Based on our recent sales we’ve decided to reinvest some of the profit into shows and events as we look to continue our growth. As many of our customers are applying Algifol to potatoes, it makes sense to exhibit at British Potato,” Palmer mentioned.

One potato grower who has enjoyed the benefits of applying Algifol is Ryan Wrisdale of the Louth Potato Company.

“Algifol has an incredibly positive impact on our potatoes. We have faced many weather-related challenges in the last three years, such as torrential rain and droughts. The growing conditions have been both hard and worrying. By applying Algifol, especially throughout the droughts, we have kept the plant green, healthy, and alive and pushed it to move forward. Although it’s an extra cost, we’ve factored it into our gross margin, and it is beneficial as it increases yields and produces a quality product at the end of the day,” Wrisdale added.

Applied by knapsack, trailed or mounted sprayers, or planes, Algifol is used worldwide on various crops, including bananas, grapes, tea, potatoes, and cereals. In the UK, most of Marcus’ customers are growing potatoes, oilseed rape, and sugar beet, with NeoMed-Pharma recommending four applications of one liter of Algifol diluted at a ratio of up to 1:1,000.