British potato growers are being urged to share data for the second season running to secure the long-term future of stores where a key sprout suppressant was used.

CIPC (chlorpropham) was widely used in potato stores across the UK until its withdrawal in 2020.

One legacy of its use is that the chemical can remain in the fabric of the building, with trace amounts being detected in stored potatoes.

See also: Research reveals critical two-month period for potato yields

Back in April 2024, the Chemical Regulations Division (CRD) of the Health and Safety Executive implemented a temporary maximum residue level (tMRL) of 0.35mg/kg.

This limit will be maintained as long as the industry can prove it is required and, to demonstrate this, data needs to be submitted on an annual basis.

Last year, the CIPC Residues Monitoring Group (CRMG) submitted 102 residue data results from potato samples held in stores during 2023-24.

This data showed that without the tMRL, about one in four stores would have exceeded the limit of detection and thereby be at risk of being taken out of use.

CRMG’S independent chairman Adrian Cunnington says this is why it’s so important to keep results flowing so the industry can maintain support for the tMRL.

How farmers can help

Most growers already have access to the data the group needs through regular customer testing of potato samples or Red Tractor sampling.

Adrian says just one test is all CRMG needs from each potato store previously treated at any time with CIPC.

If farmers have such stores, where crops are held for at least two months in the 2024-25 season, data from their regular multi-residue testing can be provided to allow this to be used as part of the CRMG report to be submitted in summer 2025.

The monitoring group requires 125 samples for the next data call, so new contributors are welcome.

Even if farmers sent test results in last year, their data can still be used.

“So please make sure you submit again – your contribution is vital.”