Net zero project trialling sustainable potato production enters its second year

Lincolnshire farmer David Armstrong and Andy Blair from Branston.

The company was awarded £2.1 million by Innovate UK in 2022 to carry out its net zero project over the course of three years with partners including agri-tech firm B-hive Innovations, the University of Lincoln, crop storage technology firm Crop Systems Ltd and growers in Lincolnshire and Scotland.

This year, an extensive range of field trials will be undertaken on potato crops throughout the season. The project aims to sustainably change the way that potatoes are grown, stored, and transported, while still producing a commercially viable crop – and in turn delivering a staple food that is better for the planet.

Andy Blair, technical field manager and project lead at Branston, commented: “Potato growers all want to know how they can reduce their fertiliser, fuel and electricity consumption as part of their net zero strategies, so they are extremely engaged in what we are trying to do.

“Fertiliser use is a major challenge and plays a significant part in all our trials. During the coming year, we will focus efforts to understand different novel fertiliser types and application rates to investigate yield and quality during growing.”

Branston has been involved in developing an organically derived low-carbon fertiliser that uses by-products and has a much lower carbon footprint than conventional products.

Varieties displaying vigorous growth that have the potential to perform with fewer inputs have been identified through previous trials, and 12 of these varieties will be included in the net zero project. Plant growth and nutrient uptake will be monitored continuously throughout the growing season as part of the second year of trials.

Nicola Matthews, Branston net zero research manager, explained: “Knowing as much as possible about our soil biology, physical properties and nutrient content will allow us to tailor cultivations and applications to maximise yield while reducing the greenhouse gases that are released during the production of the potato crop.”

“The aeration of the land is activating microbes and causing carbon dioxide release from the soil, one of the main principles behind regenerative agriculture is to minimise soil disturbance,” she explained.

While reducing cultivation in potato production is difficult, the team will continue to look into minimum tillage techniques as well as more extreme growing methods such as growing under a straw mulch.

Alongside the University of Lincoln, Branston is also analysing new technologies that could be employed in the growing process, with trials of an R-leaf technology spray – a nitrogen-fixing photosynthetic catalyst – converting nitrous oxide in the atmosphere into available nitrogen that can be taken up through the leaf.

In addition, the net zero project is looking at innovative cold store designs to keep stored crops in optimum condition while minimising energy usage and environmental impact. Crop transport and its associated carbon footprint is also coming under the consortium’s spotlight.

Mr Blair concluded: “The new trials have meant a real acceleration in the project, now this year is much bigger than last year, and it is great to tap into the scientific knowledge and all the new technologies that are being offered.

“We are very excited to see what the results bring and hope this ground-breaking research will lead to major changes and opportunities for the potato production industry from start to finish.”