Potato farming emits less greenhouse gases than cereals

The detailed literature review focused on the carbon footprint associated with potato cultivation and processing.

The research was led by Dr Marcel Naumann and Professor Elke Pawelzik from Georg-August University of Göttingen and contextualises the sector’s current carbon output and identifies potential areas for reduction.

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Dr Sebastean Schwarz, managing director of UNIKA/DKHV, highlighted the reasoning for the endeavour: “It’s crucial for us to understand our current position regarding CO2 emissions and also to pinpoint where we can potentially decrease them.”

The research used multiple publications for analysis, considering studies that involved a systematic Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach with a cradle-to-gate system boundary.

Acknowledging potential challenges by using varied research methods Dr Naumann said: “The diversity of publications made comparisons difficult; however, our evaluations indicate that the cultivation of fresh potatoes results in about 50% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to the cereal types studied.

“This holds true even when comparing fresh potatoes to processed potato products, as each additional processing step impacts the CO2 balance.”

Also highlighted within the literature were several measures that could be adopted to further reduce CO2 emissions during the harvesting of potatoes, such as targeted and reduced usage of nitrogen fertiliser.

The study does caution that readings are dependent on several variables, including cultivation conditions, making it challenging to derive a uniform strategy for emission reduction.

This important work will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interrelations between potato production and environmental impacts, highlighting future challenges and outlining how the sector can pursue a sustainable future.