As the world accelerates its transition toward climate-conscious infrastructure, North America’s potato storage industry is now squarely in the path of significant change. This was the central message shared by John W.S. Dunmore, Director of Government and External Affairs at the Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA), during a landmark briefing hosted by the North America Potato Storage Organization (NAPSO) on April 14.
Dunmore’s address centered on the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, a sweeping federal law passed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—powerful refrigerants long used in commercial and industrial cooling systems, including those vital to potato storage.
What Is the AIM Act?
The AIM Act gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to cut HFC consumption by 85% by 2036, with a gradual step-down timeline that began in 2022. The legislation supports:
- Innovation in low-emission refrigerants
- Development of clean energy jobs
- Regulatory certainty for manufacturers and operators
- U.S. compliance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
Since its implementation, the EPA has already:
- Established a national HFC allowance system (2021)
- Enforced an initial 10% reduction (2022)
- Planned additional phased reductions through 2029
- Set a final 85% cut-off target by 2036
Further policy moves may soon include equipment-specific bans, leak monitoring requirements, and updated compliance reporting.
Why Potato Storage Is Directly Affected
Though not targeted exclusively at agriculture, the AIM Act carries major implications for the potato sector. Long-term storage facilities depend on stable, low-temperature environments to preserve tuber quality and shelf life, reduce spoilage, and align with food safety standards. Many of these facilities still rely on HFC-based cooling systems.
Without adaptation, these operators could face:
- Regulatory non-compliance
- Rising maintenance costs
- Eventual retrofitting mandates
- Technology obsolescence risks
Yet, this also represents an opportunity. Transitioning to climate-smart refrigeration systems—such as CO₂, ammonia, and other low-global warming potential (GWP) alternatives—can reduce environmental impact and improve energy efficiency.
Sector-Wide Impacts and Strategic Outlook
As Dunmore explained, the AIM Act doesn’t just affect large cold storage facilities. It extends its reach to:
- On-farm storage units
- Seed potato refrigeration systems
- Processing and packing facilities
- Distribution centers
For many growers and operators, the key to resilience will be proactive engagement and industry collaboration.
To that end, Dunmore outlined several next steps for stakeholders:
- Facilitate industry-wide dialogue on refrigeration modernization
- Join coalitions with allied industries to voice agricultural needs
- Engage in EPA public comment processes
- Request technical and financial guidance for transitions
- Inform policymakers about the realities of rural and perishable storage systems
A Call for Climate-Smart Cooling
The AIM Act is more than just a regulatory shift—it marks a foundational realignment of how North America’s food systems will manage temperature-sensitive crops in a warming world. NAPSO’s decision to spotlight this issue demonstrates a vital forward-looking approach.
Potato storage operators—large and small—must now consider investing in cleaner cooling systems, tracking policy developments, and working with equipment providers to secure sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
While the timeline for full implementation extends into the next decade, planning starts today. With climate-smart storage becoming a competitive necessity, those who adapt early will reap the benefits of both compliance and operational efficiency.
