A leading potato pathologist has become the first recipient of Potatoes Australia’s Ross Trimboli Award for Industry Leadership and Advocacy.

Dr Nigel Crump was presented the inaugural award by Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven and Ross Trimboli’s wife Robyne at the World Potato Congress (WPC) Gala Dinner at the Adelaide Oval last night.

Named in honour and memory of South Australian industry stalwart Ross Trimboli, who with his parents and brothers commenced farming on the Northern Adelaide Plains in the early 1950s, the award recipient, Dr Nigel Crump is equally as staunch an advocate of the potato industry in Australia and internationally.

Through single-minded determination Mr Trimboli founded the Small Potato Farm, specialising in gourmet potatoes. The ladybird emblem is its trademark; the essence of the family enterprise-small and humble and heroes in all shapes and sizes. Mr Trimboli was also a skilled winemaker, exporting his acclaimed brand, Hazy Blur, across the world.

With over 20 years’ experience working in the Australian potato industry, Dr Crump leads by example and freely shares his knowledge, forging partnerships, and collaborations nationally and internationally and to combat poverty and food insecurity in developing countries. This is consistent with the values of the World Potato Congress; of which he is a Director.

Additionally, he is the General Manager of the Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority (AuSPICA), which is an industry-based organisation that operates the seed potato certification Scheme in South Australia, Victoria, and northern New South Wales. He is also Interim Chair of industry organisation Potatoes Australia Inc, the host of the Congress.

The 12th World Potato Congress made its Australian debut this week with more than 1,000 delegates from around the world gathering in Adelaide to share knowledge and breakthroughs in innovation.

Quotes

Attributable to Clare Scriven

I congratulate Dr Crump as the first recipient of the Ross Trimboli Award, recognising exceptional advocacy and leadership in the potato industry. With a small team, he has united the Australian industry on the global stage.

It is wonderful to see Potatoes Australia honouring South Australian industry stalwart Ross Trimboli with this award named in his memory.