The 2024 National Potato Wart Survey has been concluded by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which attests to the absence of the illness. This year’s survey examined more than 2,200 soil samples taken from seed potato fields in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Nova Scotia and had no known connection to prior potato wart detections.

“I certainly feel a sense of relief seeing the results of this year’s survey. We will continue to work with growers and the potato industry to manage this terrible pest, so we can keep delivering top-quality Canadian potatoes to folks here in Canada and around the world,” Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food of Canada mentioned.

The survey looks for potato wart in seed potato fields and offers information to confirm and enhance the efficacy of existing control strategies. These steps lessen the possibility of a negative effect on market access for Canada’s fifth-largest primary crop, potatoes. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Potato Council, and provincial governments have all been informed about the results of the 2024 study.

“Surveillance is an essential component of the CFIA’s work to monitor for invasive pests like potato wart. The survey also helps maintain the confidence of domestic and international trading partners in Canada’s potato industry,” Paul MacKinnon, CFIA President, added.

The survey complements other steps taken by the CFIA, growers, packers, and exporters to ensure that requirements set by importing countries are met, including the Potato Wart Order.

As well, a new National Potato Wart Response Plan will soon be implemented and includes improved risk mitigation measures such as enhanced bio-security and additional soil sampling and analysis.

The CFIA remains committed to science-based decision-making to help contain, control, and prevent the spread of potato wart and safeguard the Canadian potato sector.