British Potato 2011: Carbon tool shows potential

Growers at British Potato 2011 were able to find out exactly what contributed most to their carbon footprint from growing potatoes.



Using the University of Aberdeen’s Cool Farm Tool, which has been developed in conjunction with the Sustainable Food Laboratory and Unilever and taken up by PepsiCo within its grower base, growers were able to input figures in five areas to calculate their carbon footprint, explained Jon Hillier from the university.


“It shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes to fill in the spreadsheet to enable you to see your hot spots.”


Information required ranged from general information about the site, such as crop area, lifted and saleable yields, soil type, pesticide and fertiliser inputs to details about machinery use, primary processing, including storage and transport of inputs and product on and off farm, he said.


“The results page gives you a useful summary of your emissions, as well as a more detailed breakdown, so you can begin to see what contributes most. That will help give growers guidance to where they need help.”


Storage was often a big contributor, alongside fertiliser production and use, he said. “If it is a big contributor, look at your energy use. Potentially you’re able to save money and trim your carbon footprint at the same time.”


That type of win:win had also been identified in other sectors where the tool had been used, he said. “In developing countries, tea producers have been able to increase yields by 20%, while reducing emissions by 30% by incorporating residues rather than leaving them on the side of the field decomposing.”


Finding such double wins was crucial to encourage growers to cut their carbon footprint commercially, he said.



Read more from British Potato 2011 on our dedicated page.

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