Potatoes
Growers urged to consider all sprout suppressant options
• CIPC decision has major implications • Sprout suppressant availability critical • Supply chain urged to work together
was presented to growers and in- dustry advisors last month. Held in Norwich on 12-14
T
March, the post-harvest section of the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) meeting focused on the future of long-term storage in the likely absence of sprout suppressant chlorpropham (CIPC).
AHDB crop storage senior sci- entist Glyn Harper, who helped build the programme for the event, said: “This is a big year for the potato industry and the future of long-term storage. The likely ab-
he latest scientifi c progress in post-harvest potato re- search and development
sence of CIPC in Europe is one such challenge.” The Potato Industry CIPC
Stewardship Group (PICSG) has continued to promote best prac- tice for use of chlorpropham for sprout suppression in the UK – helping to maintain the availa- bility of the sprout suppressant since stewardship was introduced in January 2008.
CIPC was approved for the 2018-2019 storage season at existing rates
Appeal committee Despite this, Brussels has rec- ommended that authorisation for CIPC is not renewed – even though there have been signifi cant improvements in the effi ciency of CIPC applications and no re- ported UK exceedances of maxi- mum residue levels since Febru- ary 2014.
Implications for the industry over CIPC are potentially critical, says Mike Storey
A meeting of the EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) earlier this year failed to achieve a qual- ifi ed majority to support non-re- newal, with a decision moving to an EU Appeal Committee expect- ed to meet within six weeks. Stewardship group chairman Mike Storey stressed that the
timeframes and outcomes of any decisions for the recommendation on non-renewal and the establish- ment of a temporary maximum residue limit were not yet known or agreed.
“
‘Potentially critical’ But Dr Storey warned: “The im- plications for industry are poten- tially critical.
“Growers and store managers need to consider what these recent EU developments about probable non-renewal of CIPC mean and be
This is a big year for the future of long-term storage
aware of the most recent techni- cal developments around sprout management options for their own businesses.
“They should be speaking with
their supply chain partners, cus- tomers and advisors to get the latest information. AHDB have enhanced their Sutton Bridge research and KE activities to ad- dress this developing scenario.” A temporary maximum resi- due level is an exceptional meas- ure but may be granted at a level safe for consumers while account- ing for low-level contamination of potatoes by CIPC residues. This would allow for continued market- ing of stored crops in future years.
AHDB increases support for sprout storage
The AHDB has ring-fenced an £800,000 fund to support sprout suppression and storage advice as uncertainty continues around the future of chlorpropham (CIPC).
CIPC is used as a sprout sup- pressant on more than 80% of potatoes stored in the UK. The European Food Safety Agen- cy’s recommendation remains non-renewal – although CIPC
24 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2019
was approved for the 2018-2019 storage season at the same rates as the year before.
In addition to uncertainty over CIPC, popular desiccant Di- quat has lost EU approval, with 2019 becoming the last growing season it can be used (see page 30). Maleic Hydrazide has been re-approved but with changes to its label that may reduce the ex- tent of its use in the fi eld.
AHDB Potatoes strate- gy director Rob Clayton said: “We have been monitoring this situation closely for some time and supporting growers and the industry in choosing sprout suppression options during this turbulent period is a top prior- ity.”
The £800,000 fund aims to ensure that everyone who stores potatoes has access to the advice
they need. This will include face- to-face time with a potato stor- age expert – either at an event or through store visits. Adrian Cunnington, head
of AHDB’s Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, said a new storage network project would involve specialist trainers and advisors from industry to boost the services already provided from Sutton Bridge.
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