Farmers Review Africa March/April 2020 Farmers Review Africa March - April 2020 digital ( | Page 26

FEATURE
which can be undesirable to the consumer, there
must be a reduced sugar content of 0.25 per cent.
The answer to meeting these requirements is
through technology. By adopting innovative potato
sorting machines utilizing optical technology,
areas such as toxins, defects and the overall size
of the produce can be detected early in the supply
chain and allow the customer to get the type of
potato desired. This, in turn, helps reduce the
pressure on producers, as they can both optimize
yields and deliver high quality through harnessing
the power of sorting systems.
Combating waste through efficient
grading and repurposing
Within potato production, sustainability is key.
To protect resources, we must ensure that yields
are optimized, and waste is reduced as much as
possible. Customer demands, expectations and
requirements mean potato sorting and grading
machines become an integral part of the supply
chain and help allow for any potential defected
produce to be repurposed.
24 | March - April 2020
Especially with processed potato goods,
where the market is seeing new products being
released, finding alternative uses for a potato
which doesn’t make the grade for one use can
be done efficiently. Grading technologies such as
Near Infrared (NIR) can help supply chain select
specific potatoes for certain uses at any stage
based on the suitability.
In a working example, a potato may be graded by
the sorting machine and be deemed unsuitable
for using as a French fry due to a defect. This
doesn’t mean it has to be totally removed from
the supply chain, but an alternative purpose can
be found.
Once the defect has been removed, the potato
can be ‘scaled down’ from its use as a French
fry to, if quality allows, a hash brown or novelty
children’s potato product. Any potatoes which
were once graded as waste can now be used
to support a producer’s ‘bottom line’, which not
only cuts back on food loss, but also improves
sustainability of the supply chain.
At TOMRA, our innovative potato sorting
machines are designed with making the most out
of a harvest in mind and guarantee the removal of
discoloration, defects, bruises and rot.
Our sorting solutions can sort by defects,
biological characteristics, shape and size,
structure, color, density and foreign materials,
to help producers increase yields and quality of
produce for customers.
A new era in sustainable potato
production
The planet is facing challenges. The ever-growing
population and climate change will pose questions
on how we grow, produce and process resources
– and the potato industry is no exception to
this. With a global increase in demand, potato
production must adapt to maximize its value,
optimize yields and increase the quality of
produce through the use of technology solutions.