Making the grade - and the news - in 2005

Although we are already six weeks into 2005, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. Whether or not it will be a prosperous one always remains to be seen at this early stage, but I do believe that events taking place in our industry through Europe will provide some exciting opportunities for our continued growth and expansion.



We seem to have been making �industry headlines� over the last few weeks. The potato and agricultural media have reacted very positively to our involvement with Scottish Potato Technology and the development of trade with China, with press cuttings

appearing under the wonderful headline of �a glimpse of Eastern promise�!



The joint venture we established late last year with farming company J&J Burnett in respect of our seed farming operations has also interested the media , and both John Burnett and I have given interviews in the last week which will doubtless be featured in the trade press over the coming weeks.



It is good to see Chippings fairly bulging with news, views and reports and I know that some items have had to be omitted due to lack of space. Please keep sending news material through as the editorial team will be starting work on the next edition in under eight weeks time.