The European potato sector will face a serious problem during the storage period 2020/2021, analysts predict
When the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a report on chlorprofam (CIPC), the EU decided to ban the use of this substance and, inter alia, as an anti-sprouting potato.
Although the prohibition applies in all EU member states, the last permitted date of use differs from country to country. For example, in the Netherlands it was October 8th. The deadline for Belgium is June 30, 2020, and chlorprofam can still be used in France until August 8 of the following year.
“This limitation will have consequences,” says Ian Gottshall. He is a policy specialist for the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO).
NAO members are potato trading, exporting, sorting and packaging companies. Yang foresees significant problems for NAO members when it comes to exporting potatoes to distant countries.
He estimates that about 200 tons of potatoes are exported to third countries from the Netherlands. Of this volume, about 000 tons go to Africa. Inhibiting a germination inhibitor plays an important role when it comes to these areas.
“Buyers don't want their consumer potatoes to have any kind of sprout,” he explains.
However, sorting, packing and transporting potatoes to these distant destinations can take anywhere from 14 days to a month. These countries include Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Asian countries.
Ian says that during this long period, germination occurs when the potatoes are not stored in a controlled environment and there is no access to CIPC.
The process of sorting, packaging and transporting in general for sales in the Netherlands or the European Union is much shorter, so problems are expected only for deliveries to distant countries.
The University of Wageningen and the Research Center in the Netherlands are studying about 20 different combinations of methods for suppressing germination, and in addition, storekeepers are developing recommendations for cleaning warehouses, as chlorprofam tends to accumulate on surfaces.
There is still no sanitary protocol that would completely rid the storage of CIPC residues and in Europe there is a desperate search for a way out of the situation. Simple cleaning with a brush, vacuum cleaner and high-pressure cleaner is not sufficient to remove chlorprofam residues.
As for alternatives to chlorprofam, 4 are most adequate: maleic hydrazide, which in the past was mainly used to prevent germination, peppermint oil, 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, and ethylene. The last three are sprayed onto the potato during storage, and maleic hydrazide is in the field phase of growing the potato.
The use of these new germination inhibitors does not present any problems for use in newly constructed warehouses.
However, older warehouses are often not as well insulated or lack ventilation systems. “Growers with older stocks can of course use maleic hydrazide during the growing phase, and reduce the risk of sprouting to medium depending on variety, growing and harvesting conditions, and temperature control in the warehouse. Those who require long storage times must be sealed so that when alternative drugs are sprayed during storage, the substances function properly. The degree of filling also plays a role. The less open space - by the volume of potatoes - the better the result. Therefore, the new warehouses are divided into separate chambers, ”the Dutch scientists explain.
“Medium to long term storage costs will be higher due to the CIPC ban. And this increase will be included in the contract prices. It is understood that inhibition of germination without CIPC would be more expensive than a regimen based on this compound. How much more expensive is not yet clear. The additional cost will depend on factors such as the anti-sprouting strategy chosen - which product, with or without maleic hydrazide - and how much the potato is prone to germination, which depends on the growing season and planting conditions. New substances are also used in different ways. This means we add equipment rental and the cost of work under the contract. "
(Source: www.freshplaza.com. Posted by Martin van der Wecken).
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