Monitoring Potato Physiology in Commercial Stores Using P-Pod Technology

Building on earlier work using SafePod technology to monitor fruit physiology during storage, the PQC has been supporting SCS Inc to adapt this approach for the potato sector - enabling real-time, in-store monitoring of tuber status and quality changes throughout the storage period.

This year, six P-Pods have been installed across four commercial potato stores in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Each Pod is packed with 60–80 kg of tubers and placed within the store alongside the main crop. Controlled remotely via a cloud-based system, the Pods share the same storage environment as the surrounding potatoes for most of the time, allowing accurate, continuous data to be collected on the conditions the tubers are exposed to - including temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition, with CO2 concentrations being particularly critical.

Tuber weight loss can also be tracked throughout the storage period. At regular intervals, typically twice a week, the Pods are sealed for a few hours to allow measurement of respiration rate - a key indicator of tuber quality and stress levels. This data provides store managers with valuable insight into how their crop is performing and enables more informed decisions about storage management.

The timing of this work is especially significant. With the use of the sprout suppressant CIPC no longer permitted in the UK, the potato industry is actively seeking alternative approaches to controlling sprouting during storage. Understanding tuber physiology in real time is an important part of that transition, helping the industry move towards more sustainable and effective storage practices.

This project is supported by SCS Inc, SCS Ltd, Potato Storage Insight, and Restrain.