Christina Rühmann receives funding award for innovative potato research!

Christina Rühmann receives funding award for innovative potato research!

On September 10, 2025, Christina Rühmann was awarded the sponsorship award from the Potato Industry Promotion Association (FG). This honor recognizes her outstanding master's thesis at the University of Göttingen, in which she investigated the effects of various methods for reducing cabbage on the quality and storage stability of potatoes processed for French fries. In times of increasing environmental regulations, the topic is becoming increasingly explosive.

Herb reduction plays a crucial role in controlling tuber maturity, reducing infection risks and ensuring the storability of potatoes. In view of the increasingly restricted use of chemical active ingredients, intensive work is being done on alternative methods. Rühmann's research results show that both flaming and electrical desiccation can be used as suitable alternatives to chemical desiccation without sacrificing product quality.

Field tests and results

In extensive field trials it was found that the cabbage reduction methods have no significant influence on the starch content, sugar content and the baking color of the potatoes. The storage life of the tubers proved to be stable and remained constant over a period of five months. Dr. Marcel Naumann, Rühmann's supervisor, emphasizes how important these results are for farmers and processors.

The Potato Industry Promotion Association annually recognizes student work that promotes innovation and practical orientation in potato research. Rühmann's master's thesis is seen as an example of the successful combination of research and agricultural practice. A detailed presentation of their results can be found in the specialist journal “Kartoffelbau” (issue 7/2025), which offers further insights into the relevance of their research.

Strategies for sustainable potato production

In addition to Rühmann's work, a separate project aims to develop and optimize application recommendations for alternative methods for reducing weediness in potatoes. This project is aimed at both conventional and organic cultivation, taking into account issues such as energy costs, potato quality and soil protection.

Another point is the expired approval of the plant protection product Deiquat (Reglone) in conventional cultivation, which has increased the need for innovative methods. The new processes include an electrosiccation process that uses electric current, as well as a machine from a Dutch manufacturer for cabbage plucking and undercutting, which is new to the German market.

The project compares existing weed reduction methods with new techniques on three farms and aims to integrate these methods into an alternative system. The expected results promise significant energy savings compared to previous methods. Further information and details are available in Practice sheet can be found while the project is on the website projects.eip-nds.de further deepened.