The North America Potato Storage Organization (NAPSO) recently conducted an insightful online survey, gathering feedback from potato professionals across the continent. The survey aimed to identify and address the key obstacles that impede optimal storage practices for farmers, ensuring future initiatives and summits are tailored to meet the industry’s specific needs.
The survey results reveal several critical challenges and priority areas for the potato storage sector. Among the most significant storage challenges identified were:
Disease Management/Sanitation: Topping the list, this issue was highlighted by the largest number of respondents as their biggest challenge.
Loading/Unloading Logistics: Also identified by a significant number of respondents, highlighting the importance of timing and equipment efficiency.
Staffing/Training: Noted by many participants, emphasizing the need for skilled labor and comprehensive training programs.
Variety Management Information, Bruise, Shrink, and Dormancy Chemicals: Each of these issues was cited by 13% of the respondents, underscoring the diverse challenges faced by the industry.
Additionally, respondents provided valuable insights into what they would like to see addressed at future potato storage summits. Key topics included:
Best Management Practices for Disease and Sanitation: The top priority for the largest number of the survey participants.
New Technologies (Methods, Equipment, and Designs): Highlighted by several respondents as essential for advancing storage practices.
Information on Legal Regulations: Noted by 19% as crucial for compliance and informed decision-making.
Best Management Practices for Variety Adoption and End-Use: Each identified by 13% of respondents as critical areas of interest.
Other significant suggestions included the integration of artificial intelligence in storage monitoring, the importance of suberizing temperatures, and the impact of advanced harvesting equipment on storage needs.
The survey also revealed a strong interest amongst respondents in expert panels and Q&A sessions, with some expressing a desire for more research on postharvest treatments, climate change impacts, and pathogen mitigation strategies.
Emily Merk, NAPSO Communications Coordinator, emphasized the importance of this feedback in shaping the organization’s future efforts. “The insights gathered from this survey are invaluable in guiding our initiatives and ensuring we address the most pressing issues facing the potato storage industry. We are committed to enhancing the sustainability and profitability of the sector through targeted actions and collaboration.”
The survey results will play a pivotal role in the agenda of NAPSO’s upcoming in-person meeting during the Potato Association of America (PAA) annual conference in Portland, OR. Scheduled for July 23, 2024, from 3 PM to 4 PM at the AC Portland Hotel, this meeting will focus on further developing NAPSO’s framework and tackling the challenges identified in the survey.
For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be live-streamed via Microsoft Streams. Interested individuals can request a virtual attendance invitation by emailing Emily Merk at contact@napso.info.
For more information about NAPSO and to review the complete survey results, please visit www.napso.info .
Contact:
Emily Merk
NAPSO Communications Coordinator
contact@napso.info
Discover more from Potato News Today
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
