Potato control in a safe and natural way

The main objective of the operation is:

• to produce technological innovations using essential oils - mint or orange in the fogging process in combination with additional research trials based on additional treatment of potatoes with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures, in order to reduce uncontrolled sprouting of potatoes and their impact on diseases during storage, as well as to produce a technological innovation for potato desiccation with vinegar.

The main objective is expected to translate into improved economic performance and innovation levels for potato producers, increased environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

 The specific objectives are:

• to develop an improved technological innovation, the use of growth regulators based on essential oils - mint or orange, and the additional application of tested substances in selected research samples that will include nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures in the process of potato storage to reduce uncontrolled sprouting and the impact of diseases.

The innovation is based on the production of accurately described and tested technologies.

The need for the operation is justified by the results of scientific research as defined in Article 4 Paragraph 2 of the Law of July 20, 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science. Scientific research clearly indicates the need to both reduce the fungicides used and their residues in harvested crops and soil. It is worth mentioning that the European Union's latest strategy, the European Green Deal, places considerable emphasis on reducing the stock of crop protection products consumed, greening production and reducing environmental impact. The use of new methods to reduce the use of crop protection products is not only suggested by the results of scientific research, but also by the strategies of states and public organizations that rely on this research.

• Proper storage technology should aim to maintain low storage losses, which mainly depend on the temperature of the potatoes, the humidity of the air in the storage room and the intensity of ventilation. One of the main problems in potato storage is sprouting. In order to reduce losses, it is necessary to use various solutions and preparations aimed at inhibiting the sprouting process.

The planned operation is very much in line with the Common Agricultural Policy in terms of competitive, low-carbon, climate-friendly and climate-resilient solutions by focusing on the generation of innovations related to the creation and improvement of technological innovations centered around the optimization of the basic resources used in agriculture - plant protection products. 

• Reducing the use of crop protection products has many positive effects, both for the farmer and the end customer. The European customer may prefer products grown with less pesticide use.
• At the same time, the farmer or grower can achieve the same yield level with lower use of effective substances and reduced agrotechnical treatments. With organic potato production, the use of synthetic inputs is abandoned, making it possible to protect the environment and produce healthy food.
• The use of organic potato germination inhibitors will reduce the negative impact of the use of agents in agricultural production on the environment. Fogging with substances that meet organic farming standards may prove to be extremely necessary in the upcoming European Green Deal, where there may be a sharp, very large increase in the area of organic crops under the Farm to Fork policy, and thus an increase in the demand for organic means of regulating plant growth and development.

Project activities

The assumed operation will be implemented in 5 stages. Within the framework of the stages, each member of the consortium will carry out a series of activities leading to the production of innovations as a result of research and development activities.

• As part of the implementation of the operation, agrotechnical work will be carried out, and fogging and potato treatment methods will be developed.
• Soil tests will be carried out and analyzed.
• One of the tasks will also be to supervise the activities carried out, including fogging and treatment, as well as planting seed potatoes.
• Activities carried out under the project will also include the purchase of appropriate equipment and the completion of agrotechnical work necessary for the creation of innovation.  
• Conducting consortium meetings and supervising cooperation is intended to verify individual tasks for timely implementation of the project.

The main benefits of the project

The operation is expected to result in the implementation of an improved technology innovation. This is an innovation in improved technological innovation of incorporating essential oils combined in additive research samples with treatment with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures in the potato storage process, and studying the effect of vinegar desiccation on tuber quality after storage.

The main benefit of the operation is the ability to use the process of fogging potatoes with growth regulators based on essential oils - mint or orange with and reduce uncontrolled sprouting of potatoes in combination with treatment with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures, desiccated with vinegar before harvest.

It is assumed that the composition can show enhanced anti-sprouting activity and low wearing rates can be predicted. An additional effect, due to the neutralization of gas exchange between the potato and the surrounding air, may be the reduction of transpiration. The expected effect of using the mixture in potato production is less use of crop protection products and reduced development of potato diseases.

Practice summary

Ability to use the process of fogging potatoes with growth regulators based on essential oils - mint or orange with and reduce uncontrolled sprouting of potatoes in combination with treatment with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures, desiccated with vinegar before harvest.

• It is assumed that the composition can show enhanced anti-sprouting activity and low wearing rates can be predicted.
• An additional effect, due to the neutralization of gas exchange between the potato and the surrounding air, may be the reduction of transpiration.
• The expected effect of using the mixture in potato production is less use of crop protection products and reduced development of potato diseases.

Results achieved

The main objective of the operation was to produce technological innovations using essential oils - mint or orange in the fogging process in combination with additional research trials based on additional treatment of potatoes with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures, in order to reduce uncontrolled sprouting of potatoes and their impact on diseases during storage, as well as to produce a technological innovation for potato desiccation with vinegar.

The main objective resulted in improving economic performance and innovation levels for potato producers, increasing environmental protection and climate change mitigation. The specific objectives were to develop an improved technological innovation, the use of growth regulators based on essential oils - mint or orange, and the additional application of tested substances in selected research samples that included nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures in the process of potato storage to reduce uncontrolled sprouting and the impact of diseases. The innovation was based on the production of accurately described and tested technologies.

The operation resulted in the implementation of an improved technology innovation. This is an innovation in improved technological innovation of incorporating essential oils combined in additive research samples with treatment with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures in the potato storage process, and studying the effect of vinegar acid desiccation on tuber quality after storage. The main benefit of the operation was the ability to use the process of fogging potatoes with growth regulators based on essential oils - mint or orange with and reduce uncontrolled sprouting of potatoes in combination with treatment with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures, desiccated with vinegar before harvest. The composition showed enhanced anti-sprouting activity and enabled low wearing rates. The effect of using the mixture in potato production was less use of crop protection products and reduced development of potato diseases.

Additional comments

The potential area of impact of the result of the operation extends beyond the territory of the Republic of Poland.

• The use of growth regulators based on essential oils - mint or orange to increase the storage efficiency of potatoes with the additional use of fertilizers with nanoparticles, biopreparations, oxidized water and mineral-herbal mixtures does not require large scale effects and can be used not only in huge farms and seed companies, but also in smaller family farms.
• The combination of this innovation, together with the generation of relevant organizational innovations, can guarantee the area of impact of the result of the operation in potato farms throughout the European Union.
• The good practice of using innovative technologies to reduce uncontrolled potato sprouting can easily be duplicated based on information gained through the Internet.
• Moreover, the practice itself may spread with the sale of the product in the production of which this innovative method was used. The totality of these facts indicates that the results of the operation may have an impact beyond the territory of the Republic of Poland, in particular within the common market of the European Union.