The corona crisis is causing a decrease in the demand for potatoes for the processing industry. As a result, means for proper storage are again in the spotlight. One of the most commonly used sprout inhibitors at the moment is ethylene. What explains the popularity of the drug? And what should you take into account when considering a switch? Fernando Rubio Lòpez, ethylene expert and technical manager at Restrain, explains.
Natural germination inhibition based on ethylene is rapidly advancing in the potato chain. Many growers and large processors such as McCain in Canada have already agreed. In the past year, more than 1,000 potato growers and processors switched to ethylene sprout inhibition from Restrain. The method is currently applied in 40 countries on a total of more than two million tons of potatoes.
In addition to the consequences of the corona crisis, the recent ban on the sprout inhibitor CIPC also gave the popularity of alternatives a significant boost. Now that CIPC sprout inhibition is no longer permitted, many countries and parties in the potato chain have already stopped using the agent on the 2020 harvest.
We notice that users who turned to alternatives such as mint oil, orange oil and DMN are now also exploring the possibilities of germination inhibition with ethylene. That’s because ethylene is a lot cheaper than the alternatives. In addition, the method is odorless. Despite these benefits, switching can feel like a big step. But it is actually very simple.
How it works
Restrain works with a generator that converts liquid ethanol into ethylene gas. The software-equipped generator continuously distributes a low concentration of ethylene evenly throughout the potato storage shed. After three days of exposure to ethylene, the germination process of the potatoes in the shed is blocked. A supplied sensor measures the ethylene concentration in the storage. The smart generator automatically adjusts the gas production to the measured values. The concentration of ethylene used is low. This makes the method cost-efficient and safe. Moreover, the gas is natural and leaves no residue. This makes it also suitable for organic farming.
No storage adjustments
Germination inhibition with ethylene is suitable for all types of storage areas, regardless of the size and fill level of the room. It is also effective in non-airtight sanding, forced cooling sanding and longitudinal aeration sanding. When switching to Restrain, users do not have to change their retention method. The treatment works with almost all types of storage: in bulk, in boxes or crates and with a grid floor. In short, users do not have to make any adjustments to their storage. The Restrain generators have a large capacity. A single generator can treat a room with 5,000 tons of potatoes. This contributes to the cost efficiency and popularity of the method.
Daily ventilation
When using ethylene it is important that you ventilate your storage area daily. At Restrain we recommend circulating the air internally in the shed for one hour per day so that the ethylene mixes optimally. For the best result, it is wise to air your shed externally for an hour immediately afterwards to remove CO 2 .
Application to sprouted potatoes
Ethylene sprout inhibition is also suitable for potatoes on which sprouting is already visible. After a few days of treatment, the agent blocks the germs that develop. During the storage period, the sprouts remain on the potatoes, but they become brittle and break down when scraping. So no more germs are visible at the time of delivery. Moreover, germs do not need to be burned off. As a result, there are no burn marks on the peels and the peel quality is better.
Retention of baking colors
Restrain is suitable for use on the potato varieties Agria, Fontane and Markies, the most important varieties for the processing industry. The product achieves good test results in baking color tests of independent test stations. Customers are also positive about the use of ethylene. Jeff Beever, Agronomist at McCain Foods (GB), explains: “At McCain, we have been closely following the development of Restrain and applied it on a commercial scale for a number of years.
We have conducted several comparative tests on the effectiveness of this germ suppressor and tested how it affects the color of our potato varieties. Our trials were successful, so in the 2019/20 storage season, all of our medium to long-term storage was conducted with ethylene. We now encourage our growers to use Restrain as a germ suppressor. ”
Safety
Ethylene is a colorless and volatile gas that you cannot smell at low concentrations. In theory, the gas is dangerous at high concentrations, but Restrain’s generators are not technically capable of achieving those values. The ethylene concentrations with which Restrain works are extremely low and therefore safe. The ethanol that serves as input for the generator is flammable. Therefore, keep in mind that you are not allowed to use fire or smoking materials near the generator and in the storage area.
Low costs
An important difference with alternative sprout inhibitors is the operating costs. Not unimportant, now that potato prices are under pressure due to corona. The average costs for using Restrain are between 3.5 and 5 euros per ton of potatoes for the entire storage season. The variation in costs depends on the degree of insulation in your storage. Alternatives that require users to fog every three weeks are often more expensive. There it is easily about 5 euros per ton per three-week treatment.
Training and support
Restrain’s appeal is a combination of low costs, user-friendliness and low user risks. If you are considering the use of ethylene germ inhibition, you can follow a free online training course on the Restrain website. The training prepares interested parties and users for the use of ethylene and the equipment. The training takes ten minutes and explains how to use the sprout inhibitor effectively and safely by means of short videos. Topics covered include preparation, handling, storage management, and safety guidelines. After correctly answering a few test questions you will receive a certificate. This shows that you are ready to get started with ethylene.
For questions about storage, the reader of the article can go to this page: https://restrain.eu.com/nl/faq/#potato-storage
