During the 2015 Potato Expo in Orlando, Fla., Bayer CropScience demonstrated the power of one of the world’s most important staple crops through its “Share the Spuds” giving campaign. This initiative encouraged attendees to help Bayer decide how to allocate a $10,000 donation to the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA), an organization that provides potatoes and other fresh produce to help feed the hungry, by voting on the geographic breakdown of the donation. While at the Bayer booth, Potato Expo attendees also had the opportunity to charge their devices with an alternative power source—potato electricity.
Through Share the Spuds, Potato Expo attendees voted for the region that would receive the greatest portion of the donation by placing a token in one of four buckets representing the key potato-growing regions in the country. Bayer’s donation will support SoSA’s produce salvage programs, Potato & Produce Project and the Gleaning Network. SoSA brings together farmers, volunteer gleaners, distribution networks, food banks and relief agencies to feed the hungry while maximizing farmers’ output and reducing food waste.
“Our commitment to potato growers goes beyond our crop protection innovation and continued investment in the development of new solutions to meet the potato industry’s evolving needs,“ said Rob Schrick, horticulture strategic business lead at Bayer CropScience. “Through our partnership with the Society of St. Andrew, we want to help ensure that as much of the grower’s crop ends up where it should—feeding and nourishing families. We thank Potato Expo attendees for actively helping us determine which communities our donation will benefit.”
As a result of the Share the Spuds giving campaign, the Mountain region earned the highest number of tokens in its bucket and will receive $5,000. The Eastern region was the runner-up and will receive $3,000, followed by the Central and Pacific regions, each of which will receive $1,000.
“With the support of Bayer CropScience, the Society of St. Andrew will be able to grow our potato and produce and gleaning programs in the Mountain region and other potato-growing regions in the U.S.,” said Mike Waldmann, executive director of the Society of St. Andrew. “In 2013, these programs helped the SoSA salvage and distribute approximately 32 million pounds of fresh produce to hunger relief organizations nationwide, and we hope to see that number grow with the help of Bayer’s donation.”
Bayer CropScience also demonstrated the power of the potato as an electrical conduit with its 9-by-4-foot potato wall. When paired with zinc and copper, the moisture inside a potato acts as battery acid. Booth visitors charged their electronic devices at a charging station powered by nearly 1,000 potatoes.
The Expo also gave potato growers, processors and retailers the opportunity to learn how the Bayer CropScience portfolio of products equips potato growers with the tools they need to protect and enrich their crop during four pivotal stages from planting to harvest:
Plan: Start the season off right for maximum value with Emesto Silver fungicide seed piece treatment, disease protection that promotes plant establishment and vigor.
Prepare: Help ensure success throughout the season with Serenade, a unique biological fungicide that protects young plants against the damaging effects of soil diseases.
Protect: Preserve yield and quality by helping minimize nematode damage below ground and insect damage above with the powerful two-way systemic action of Movento insecticide.
Succeed: Help produce the best potatoes possible this season by combating problematic diseases with the outstanding efficacy of Luna Tranquility fungicide.