Valorisation of co-products from the potato growing industry

Challenge

Potato haulms – the leafy parts of the plant which are not eaten – are a co-product of potato production. 93,000 tonnes are estimated to have been produced in Scotland 2022 alone. Potato haulms contain a broad range of bioactives which have potential applications in everything from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to pest and disease control, but they are currently chopped and left on the ground in order to stop tuber growth and therefore are an unsed co-product.

This project assessed the feasibility of valorising potato haulms as feedstocks for ingredients and high value products for global markets.

Solution 

Funding from IBioIC’s Feasibility Fund enabled Grampian Growers to work with Professor Giovanna Bermano from Robert Gordon University and Dr Gordon McDougall of The James Hutton Institute to address this challenge. Using 12 varieties of haulm provided by Grampian Growers, Professors Bermano and McDougall explored current methods of extracting high value compounds and undertook compositional analysis of the haulm material as well as assessing the collection and processing life cycle. Various growing locations  and collection methods were examined and once harvested, samples were frozen and the impact on the yield of extracted compounds was assessed.

 Outcome 

This project has given Grampian Growers valuable data to support a decision on the feasibility of extracting bioactives from potato haulms and the viability of this alternative value chain for potato cultivators.

The academic partners benefitted from upskilling of the research team around haulm sample preparation and compositional analysis. New techniques for the measurement of fibre and bioactives extraction were optimised.

Data arising from this project has allowed the group to have informed discussions with potential end users in cosmeceuticals supply chains.