Sensor-based solutions for the potato industry

The planet is facing challenges. The ever-growing population and climate change will pose questions on how we grow, produce and process resources – and the potato industry is no exception to this.

With a global increase in demand, potato production must adapt to maximise its value, optimise yields and increase the quality of produce through the use of technology solutions.

TOMRA Food designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting machines and integrated post-harvest solutions for the food industry, using the world’s most advanced grading, sorting, peeling and analytical technology. More than 8,000 units are installed at food growers, packers and processors around the world for fruits, nuts, vegetables, potato products, grains and seeds, dried fruit, meat and seafood. The company’s mission is to enable its customers to improve returns, gain operational efficiencies, and ensure a safe food supply via smart, useable technologies. To achieve this, TOMRA Food operates centers of excellence, regional offices and manufacturing locations within the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

TOMRA Food is member of the TOMRA Group that was founded on innovation in 1972 that began with design, manufacture and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems that optimize resource recovery and minimize waste in the food, recycling and mining industries.

TOMRA has ~100,000 installations in over 80 markets worldwide and had total revenues of ~8.6 billion NOK in 2018. The Group employs ~4,000 globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: TOM).

With an increase in demand and the threat of climate change impacting yields, Thomas Molnar, VP, Head of Global Sales TOMRA Food Sorting, explores why we need to re-evaluate how we produce potatoes in the May edition of Potato Review. If you don't already receive a copy, you can subscribe and receive a back copy - just visit https://www.potatoreview.com/circulations/subscribe for more details.