Every potato lost during storage is money down the drain.
The cost isn’t just lost marketable yield, it’s also wasted resources: all the water, crop inputs, labour, equipment time, and management energy that went into that potato’s production. That’s why effective sustainability efforts need to start with how one grows, but then also consider how one protects what they’ve worked so hard to produce.
Reducing waste in storage means higher profits, better quality, and a smarter approach to long-term success. Every extra pound of salable potatoes is less strain on resources, less waste to manage, and a more responsible way to operate in today’s agriculture industry. That’s a business win and a sustainability must.
The Limitations of CIPC
CIPC was a game-changer when it was introduced to the potato industry. But, that was the 1950s. We’ve come a very, very long way since then. While CIPC remains the go-to for sprout control here in North America, better options with a more modern, fuller suite of benefits, exist.
CIPC does a highly effective job of stopping sprouting. However, it also disrupts cell division and slows wound healing, leaving stored potatoes more vulnerable to disease. Instead of preventing rot, CIPC can actually accelerate disease’s spread, making a bad situation even worse. If even a small amount of rot is present in a pile treated with CIPC, the disease is more likely to take off than be contained.
The Smarter, More Sustainable Alternative
There is a much more modern, multi-benefit solution. 1,4SIGHT isn’t just a sprout inhibitor; it’s a true dormancy enhancer. Unlike CIPC, which simply stops sprouting, 1,4SIGHT works with the potato’s natural biology, activating enzymes that help maintain field-fresh quality. In addition to promoting dormancy and managing peeps and sprouts, 1,4SIGHT locks in moisture, maintaining tuber weight and supporting field-fresh quality. It also supports wound healing, reducing the risk of disease taking hold. While it’s effective in any storage season, it’s a game-changer in tough years when potatoes are stressed and at risk of either sprouting away valuable yield or succumbing to disease. That means more marketable yield and less waste: a win for farmers’ wallets AND their sustainability efforts.
When storage is done right, we’re not just preserving potatoes; we’re preserving the future of efficient, sustainable farming.
