Potato growing, both organic and conventional, uses carbon at all stages. Tractor fuel for cultivation, spray application and harvesting. Cooled storage of ware and seed. In addition, conventional growers use synthetic chemicals as fertilizers and to control weeds, pests and disease.  A carbon audit for potatoes has recently been published in the SAC potato newsletter.

Our varieties are selected to grow without many of the interventions needed when growing other varieties.  Specifically, weed control is not necessary unless the weed load in the soil is high as their vigorous foliage soon smothers weed seedlings.  Control of aphids is rarely necessary as plants are resistant to aphid transmitted viruses.  Blight sprays (up to 20 per season in susceptible crops) is not required.  Tubers can be stored at ambient or moderate temperatures as natural dormancy is long.  This adds up to very substantial saving of time, money and energy making the carbon footprint of the Sárpo crop one of the lightest of all potato crops.