In the first phase, the PATAT'UP project, in partnership with FIWAP, aimed to study existing levers and techniques for reducing inputs in potato cultivation, and then combine them into innovative itineraries that allow a reduction of up to 75%.
Three areas of research were used to achieve this objective, among which the varietal lever proved essential, in particular in reducing fungal treatments and nitrogen fertilisation through the adoption of more robust varieties. Beyond this central lever, the first two years of trials, in 2022 and 2023, identified other key factors for reducing inputs, in particular weed control, CPB management and haulm destruction.
In 2024, two "low-input" technical itineraries were developed and tested: an intermediate itinerary and an extreme itinerary, each implemented on two sites and compared with a conventional itinerary testing the Fontane variety. These itineraries include several combined levers, in particular the reduction of fungal treatments and nitrogen fertilisation through the use of more robust varieties, combined weeding - pre-emergence chemical weeding on the top of the ridges and mechanical weeding on the sides (see photo), the reduction of insecticides through the use of beetle brooms, and alternative haulm destruction methods such as electric haulm destruction or leaf tips.
The results show that the intermediate itinerary enables large-scale potato production while remaining economically viable, with environmental benefits confirmed by life-cycle analysis. The reductions in inputs for this itinerary are 13% for fungal treatments, 74% for herbicides, 30% for nitrogen fertilisation and a total reduction of 100% for insecticide use against CPB and for chemical haulm destruction.
However, while the extreme itinerary offers even greater environmental benefits, it is not economically sustainable under current conditions.
It is therefore necessary to continue optimising these itineraries to reconcile environmental performance objectives with economic profitability, based on the integration of innovative technologies, such as more efficient weeding tools or precision fertilisation solutions, as well as the adoption of high-performance agroecological practices that could help to offset the observed drop in yield.
Financing: Walloon Recovery Plan
Photo title: Mechanical weeding using the AVR ridge plough (30/07/2024- Walhain)
