Planting for the future
One of the greatest challenges facing the potato industry has little to do with production or marketing. In order to succeed tomorrow, we must work to develop the next generation of agriculture leaders today. That is why the National Potato Council (NPC) is proud to sponsor two annual programs designed to develop future leaders and motivate young growers to commit their time to the betterment of the industry.
Each year, NPC awards a $10,000 academic scholarship to a graduate student pursuing advanced studies in agribusiness or plant science related to potatoes. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including academic achievement, leadership abilities, benefit to the potato industry/commercial value, extracurricular activities and grades.
The 2014 scholarship winner was Washington Luis da Silva, a plant pathology Ph.D. student at Cornell University. His research into potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD), a tuber deformity, will offer insight into the ongoing issues the industry faces related to infections from Potato virus necrotic strains. His goal to improve the screening process for this issue would have a direct economic benefit for potato breeders and for the potato industry as a whole.
NPC is currently evaluating applications for a scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year. The application deadline was June 30, and the scholarship winner will be announced in August. The winner will be invited to display their work at the potato research poster sessions during POTATO EXPO 2016, Jan. 12-14 in Las Vegas.
The Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) is another program designed to identify and cultivate new leaders within the industry. The annual program is administered by NPC and the U.S. Potato Board (USPB) and identifies and trains the next generation of industry leaders. Over eight days, each February, a group of up-and-coming growers and industry members comes together to sharpen their skills in the areas of leadership development, public policy, marketing, team building and public communication.
Each year, PILI begins in a different potato growing region and finishes in Washington, D.C. at the NPC Potato DC Fly In. The 2015 leadership class kicked off in Spokane, Washington, where the class received an overview of the local and national potato industry, including some of the challenges associated with water availability, consumer attitudes and opportunities for expanded international trade in potatoes and potato products. The second half of the leadership institute’s training was held in Washington, D.C., where the focus moved to legislative and regulatory priorities for the U.S. potato industry. PILI attendees joined growers from their home states on visits to member offices on Capitol Hill, where participants put their lobbying training to work.
Leadership institute graduates are one of the industry’s greatest assets. Participants develop a broad understanding of the industry and a commitment to leadership for the industry, whether it is on the local, state or national level. NPC and our state partners are working to tap into this stream of talent by encouraging past PILI graduates to participate in NPC policy development and implementation activities, including attending the Potato D.C. Fly-In, to advance the industry’s federal legislative and regulatory priorities.
As I travel around the country, I see PILI graduates at NPC, USPB and state potato organization meetings chairing committees and filling leadership posts. NPC is focused on identifying and bringing individuals from all sectors of the industry to fill leadership roles. Whether they are up-and-coming researchers or academics, valued allied industry members or growers who will one day direct the activities of our state and national potato organizations, it is our goal to prepare tomorrow’s leaders to help secure a healthy and prosperous future for our industry.
