Academic and industry collaboration is exploring opportunities in skincare and other sectors
A Scottish research project is looking to turn potato waste into high-value compounds that can be used for cosmetics, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.
The Scottish seed potato industry, worth £24.2 million, generates over 51,000 tonnes of potato shaws annually. As part of an essential crop management practice to stop further tuber growth and ensure quality, storability, and disease resistance, the shaws are traditionally discarded after harvest.
Funded by Innovate UK through the Launchpad: Bio-based Manufacturing – Scotland programme, the new project brings together industry expertise from farmer-owned co-operative Grampian Growers, with researchers from the University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton Institute.
The project aims to extract solanesol from the discarded shaws, a compound vital for producing coenzyme Q10 and vitamin K2, which are key ingredients in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical products.
Currently sourced mainly from tobacco, solanesol demand has soared from 4,000t in the early 2000s to 66,000t by 2022. The project aims to offer an ethical, sustainable alternative to tobacco, reducing waste, cutting carbon emissions, and creating new income streams for Scottish farmers.
By leveraging this potential, the project will make more complete use of the potato biomass, reduce agricultural waste, and create new economic opportunities for Scottish farmers and cooperative members.
With 12,800ha of seed potatoes grown in Scotland, researchers believe the industry could yield up to 120t of solanesol annually, driving circular economy innovation and strengthening rural resilience.
The initiative is supported by Alder BioInsights’ strategic consultancy and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society’s (SAOS) cooperative expertise.
Sofia Alexiou, project lead at Grampian Growers, said: “This project is particularly significant for Grampian Growers and the wider potato industry. 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 cooperative models, demonstrating the potential of innovation to strengthen rural economies.”
