Caroline_Evans

Caroline Evans

The United Kingdom and Ireland are joining forces as part of a multi-million-pound scheme to put potatoes back on consumers' plates.

Food boards Bord Bia (Ireland) and the UK's Potato Council are driving the public awareness campaign, which - if it goes ahead - is expected to cost €4.6 million.

However, both parties have said that the scheme can only go ahead if the EU pays half of that sum.

If the scheme gets the green light, it is believed that the plan is to spend €1m pushing the message in Ireland, and €3.6m targeting consumers in Britain.

Although potatoes continue to be the main source of carbohydrates in main meals in both Irish and UK diets, over the last decade or so the consumption of fresh potatoes in home has fallen significantly in both markets, thanks to increased competition from the likes of pasta and rice.

Caroline Evans, head of marketing at Potato Council, said: 'Potato Council is working on a joint application by Great Britain and Ireland to the EU promotions scheme for a programme to promote potatoes.

'If successful the programme would be co-financed with EU funds - allowing Potato Council to deliver greater returns to its levy-payers. Potato Council has previously run the Many Faces of Potatoes programme in conjunction with France and Belgium, which demonstrated the value that can be delivered.'