UPL’s new orange oil product, ARGOS, has received official approval for the treatment of sprouting in stored potatoes in Ireland, according to a press release issued by UPL (UK and Ireland) today.
ARGOS is made from a natural substance, d-limonene (terpene), which is obtained by physical extraction of oil from the orange peel. There is said to be no residue, no smell or taste to the end product, and no withholding period. This means the product is flexible for fresh and processing sectors, with no effect on fry colour, according to the press release.
The orange oil is applied as a hot fogging concentrate. Upon contact with the potato, the oil disrupts the growing point of newly emerging sprouts, burning them off and preventing germ growth.
ARGOS gained registration earlier this year in the Netherlands, where commercial trials since 2015 showed favourable performance against mint oils and other alternatives, even giving the outgoing established CIPC product a run for its money.
Head of Technical Services for UPL UK and Ireland, Don Pendergrast, visited the trials and has been working with Sutton Bridge Research Station in the UK.
“The loss of CIPC means the industry has had to rethink the whole storage strategy, he said. “Whilst several other alternatives exist, they are not without their drawbacks – either requiring extended withholding periods or having potential impacts on quality of stored potatoes. Orange oil may be a late entrant to the race, but it certainly has good form and offers versatility that other competitors cannot beat.”
For more information, contact Don Pendergrast at UPL or visit the ARGOS page on UPL’s website here.
Source: UPL
Photo: BestFoodFacts.org
