130943Reducing Disease and Consequent Losses on PotatoesClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKThis aim of this unique project is to control skin diseases on the surface of potatoes with an environmentally improved method, to increase yields and reduce field losses, improving storage, preventing skin blemishes and minimising food losses. The system utilises high power light energy to control the diseases on the surface of the potato. An agricultural foodstuff, such as potatoes, will carry various diseases on its outer skin. Some of these pathogens cause long term damage, yield reduction and possible total loss of crop. The visual presentation of the potato can be affected by some diseases, such as silver scurf or black dot, causing the potato to be rejected and only used as animal feed. Presently these diseases are treated with pesticides, both at the planting and storage stage. In our ‘proof of concept’ work we have shown we can control a number of these pathogens, to at least the level of control achieved by pesticides. The aim of this project is to build a scaled version of the conceived production machine, and test the efficacy of the method using real potatoes in ‘real-world’ conditions.