Direct Tuber Testing Panel

Webinar Summary

Seed potato certification ensures potato growers have access to varietal pure, disease-free, high-quality potatoes to produce high-yielding, healthy crops. This webinar explores the evolving role of direct tuber testing (DTT) in seed potato certification and its potential to enhance the detection of potato pathogens while improving the efficiency of certification programs. Speakers from certification agencies will discuss how DTT compares with traditional field inspections and laboratory testing methods, including ELISA and PCR assays, and examine its benefits, challenges, validation requirements, regulatory considerations, and implementation timelines.

Attendees will gain insight into current research and emerging approaches that may help streamline certification processes while maintaining the high standards needed to provide growers with healthy, disease-free seed potatoes.

Learning Objectives

After the webinar, attendees should be more aware of the benefits of direct tuber testing (DTT), and realize the areas in which more practical research is needed.

About the Presenters

Moderator: Nina Zidack | Retired Montana State University

Brooke Babler

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Brooke Babler is the Associate Research Program Director of the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program (WSPCP) in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at UW–Madison, where her studies in Plant Pathology and Horticulture–Plant Breeding fostered a passion for potatoes and seed health. Since joining WSPCP in 2007, Brooke has provided leadership in seed potato certification, diagnostic testing, tissue culture, and early-generation seed production. She chairs the Potato Association of America Direct Tuber Testing Subcommittee, serves as the U.S. representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes, and collaborates nationally and internationally to advance diagnostic technologies, certification standards, and disease-free seed potato production. Brooke is committed to strengthening the health and sustainability of the seed potato industry through research, collaboration, and innovation.

Andrew Houser

Colorado Potato Certification Service

Andrew has been working on potato disease issues in Colorado for the last 26 years. He received his BS in Botany from Adams State College in 1999, an MS in Horticulture with a plant pathology emphasis in 2008 and his PhD from Colorado State University in 2018. Since 2016, Andrew has served as the Manager for the Colorado Potato Certification Service, which certifies all of the seed potatoes for the State of Colorado. He and his staff work with local potato seed growers to produce high quality seed potatoes. Andrew still dabbles in some research, focusing on Potato Virus Y management and Powdery Scab resistance.

Thomas Hamill

Pepsico

Thomas Hamill grew up on a small family farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where his family cultivated potatoes and grains. Agriculture has remained a central part of his life—two of his brothers continue to actively operate the family farm today. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, building a strong foundation in both farming and agribusiness.

He began his career as a summer intern with a French fry processor, launching what would become a global career in the potato industry. He went on to work for a potato exporter, where he gained extensive international experience, traveling to markets across Southeast Asia and Central America.

For the past 12 years, Thomas has been based in Frisco, Texas, working with PepsiCo Foods North America. Over this time, he has held several procurement leadership roles and is currently the Director of Seed Procurement for North America, where he oversees strategic sourcing and supplier partnerships critical to the company’s agricultural supply chain.

Jason Kimm

Kimm Seed Potatoes

Jason Kimm is a fifth-generation farmer from Southwest Montana and co-owner of Kimm Seed Potatoes, where his family has been growing seed since 1958. With 27 years of experience, Jason works alongside his father Bill, brother Mark, and brother-in-law Alan Venema. He’s passionate about soil health and agricultural innovation, serves on several local and industry boards, and enjoys reading, water sports, basketball, and time with his family. Jason has been married to his wife Yvonne for 25 years and is the proud father of five children: Willem, Benjamin, Eliza, Joshua, and Sarina.