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The project, which involves SAOS, the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen University and Alder Bio Insights, aims to address the global demand for more ethical and environmentally sustainable solanesol alternatives, traditionally derived from tobacco leaves.
Scotland’s seed potato industry produces over 51K tonnes of potato haulms annually as a by-product when they are cut to stop tuber growth and usually discarded in the field.
With the capacity to yield up to 120 tonnes of solanesol based on 12,800 hectares of Scottish seed potatoes grown in 2024, solanesol could open new added value streams for farmers and will support a more resilient agricultural model.
Key objectives include developing a resilient, resource-efficient manufacturing process to:
Sofia Alexou, Project Lead at Grampian Growers, said “This project is significant for Grampian Growers and the wider potato industry too. It offers an opportunity to add value to agricultural by-products while addressing key challenges such as waste reduction and economic resilience. By unlocking new revenue streams, the project supports Scottish farmers and enhances the profitability of co-operative models, demonstrating the potential of innovation to strengthen rural economies.”
Pilot studies have shown that solanesol levels vary by potato variety, growing region, and harvest method. This project will determine the optimal ways to gather, store, and process haulms for scalable solanesol extraction. By fully exploiting the haulms, the project will provide an additional income stream for farmers, especially during suboptimal harvest years, and create a viable UK-based business centred on potato co-products.
The project aligns with growing consumer demand for natural, bio-based products and addresses the rising global need for solanesol, which has increased from 4,000 tonnes in the early 2000s to 66,000 tonnes by 2022. By leveraging this potential, the project will make more complete use of the potato biomass, reduce waste, and enhance economic opportunities for farmers and the cooperative members.
SAOS’s Project Manager, Paty Rojas Bonzi, who has been closely involved in the project from the start, commented: “We’re excited to be working on this collaboration. It’s always great to find uses for agri byproducts and watching science and innovation, working together with co-ops, to unlock great opportunities such as this, right here in Scotland.”