Strategies to reduce waste due to greening in potato tubers
Lead Participant:
THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE
Abstract
In the UK, tuber greening is directly linked to 116,000 tonnes of household potato waste each year with
an associated estimated loss of £60m p.a. to UK retailers. In field losses due to tuber greening also cost
the industry £37m p.a. Greening is a significantly negative factor in consumer purchases where a 1%
increase in sales is worth £3m p.a. to producers. This project brings together partners that span the food
chain from production, through packaging, to major supermarkets who will work with academic
researchers to develop solutions to reduce tuber greening. Photobiological experiments will identify the
conditions and target genes for light-induced tuber greening informing the design of prototype
packaging film to reduce greening during storage and in store. Recently developed potato genetic
approaches will be used to identify markers for genes associated with reduced greening providing the
foundation of a longer term strategy to produce new non-greening potato varieties.
an associated estimated loss of £60m p.a. to UK retailers. In field losses due to tuber greening also cost
the industry £37m p.a. Greening is a significantly negative factor in consumer purchases where a 1%
increase in sales is worth £3m p.a. to producers. This project brings together partners that span the food
chain from production, through packaging, to major supermarkets who will work with academic
researchers to develop solutions to reduce tuber greening. Photobiological experiments will identify the
conditions and target genes for light-induced tuber greening informing the design of prototype
packaging film to reduce greening during storage and in store. Recently developed potato genetic
approaches will be used to identify markers for genes associated with reduced greening providing the
foundation of a longer term strategy to produce new non-greening potato varieties.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE | £124,481 | £ 124,481 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
TESCO STORES LIMITED | £25,027 | £ 11,250 |
BRANSTON LIMITED | £78,800 | £ 35,460 |
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON | £24,990 | |
WAITROSE LIMITED | £25,000 | £ 11,250 |
AMCOR FLEXIBLES UK LIMITED | £92,014 | £ 41,406 |
JAMES HUTTON LIMITED | £29,478 | £ 13,262 |
People |
ORCID iD |