INSIDERSPotato Growth Regulators and Sprout InhibitorsWhat About Sustainability in Storage?

What About Sustainability in Storage?

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I was having a beer with a potato farming buddy a couple nights ago and – as usual – we started talking shop: what’s new for equipment, what’s happening in the field, when the heck is it going to rain. At some point in the conversation, he started telling me about sustainability improvements he’d trialled during last year’s growing season: notable changes including updating his 4R nutrient management, tank-mixing to reduce an in-crop pass, increasing the efficiency of some irrigation for reduced water usage. Being a storage guy, I asked: “What about sustainability in storage?” His response is one I hear often when I bring up the importance of what I call ‘second season sustainability’. He looked at me kinda surprised and said, “What about sustainability in storage?”

During potatoes’ 90- to 120-day growing season, potato production’s greenhouse gas and carbon footprint partially offsets itself. On the emissions side, the primary contributors are farm equipment’s exhaust, plus the production, transportation and off-gassing of fertilizer. On the capture side, growing potato plants absorb significant C02, and potato fields operate as carbon storage sinks.

During potatoes’ 150, 250 or more day storage season, potatoes are entirely an emissions negative. On top of requiring energy input for storage climate control, potatoes release C02 as they respire.

While there’s starting to be some progress made on promoting sustainability in storage, the vast majority of our industry’s sustainability focus still remains on the growing season. That’s going to change as processors, retailers, the general public and governments demand more sustainability across all parts of production.

Since it’s always better to shape the narrative than to be told the lines, I suggest we tackle change now:

First, we need to name storage for what it is: storage season. Tubers don’t lay inert from bin close through shipping. They shift and change, respire and sweat, shrink and sprout. Good management doesn’t end at bin close-up, so our efforts at sustainability can’t end at harvest.

Second, we need to capture a storage emissions baseline so we know our starting place. Currently, we know potato storage is a net negative, but we don’t have the data to calculate real numbers, nor can we calculate or ultimately prove steps forward.

Third, we need to invest in sustainability in storage design. Improved storage buildings, more energy efficient heating and ventilation systems, and cleaner fogging systems can all make meaningful sustainability differences.

Finally, we need more fully to consider the sustainability of current storage products. Our industry remains heavily reliant on CIPC, a 60 plus year old conventional chemical technology. Dormancy enhancer 1,4SIGHT not only offers high efficacy and key production benefits, it offers major sustainability benefits too. Whereas CIPC is an herbicide that stays on the skin of a potato as particles, 1,4SIGHT is a biocontrol vapour that naturally volatilizes away over time. Unlike CIPC, 1,4SIGHT doesn’t carry storage or environmental contamination concerns. And, 1,4SIGHT does more than simply controlling sprouting: it calms tubers’ respiration, decreasing the release of C02.

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Bill Orr
Bill Orrhttps://14group.ca/
Canada Technical Representative, One Four Group - Bill Orr started in the sprout inhibitor application industry quite by accident. After college, he worked for a tree care company and sprout inhibitor applications were its fall area of business. This was before the VFD was introduced into the application process in Canada. After enduring those dirty times cleaning up after applications, Orr continued on for another 14 years in the industry. He quickly moved on to doing applications, then technical training for applicators, next to managing the entire application process, and eventually to owning his own sprout inhibitor application company. His application experience has allowed him to do application in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Orr finds sprout inhibiting a very interesting and unique industry, and he enjoys all the dynamics and challenges it has to offer.