Mild temperatures during harvesting are not ideal for storing potatoes and onions. To maintain quality during storage, good storage solutions are essential. And these systems are becoming increasingly smart.
Omnicuro
Omnivent is hard at work developing drying and storage control systems. This Dutch company develops and supplies storage solutions worldwide and is especially big in the potato and onion sector. "We have all the necessary in-house techniques for ventilation, (condensation) drying, cooling, and climate control," begins company sales manager Cor van Maanen. "We can, thus, meet customers' storage needs. If a producer wants to store for an extended period, we begin by doing that as efficiently as possible. There's currently a lot happening in the OmniCuro V5's development and the software it needs."
Omnivent sees a noticeably increased need for intelligent, sustainable storage systems. "Every year, growers must consider three factors: the harvested products' quality, weather conditions, and storage length. It can be tough to control those things. This season, for example, was dry. The quality coming off the land is good, but it's still too hot. To maintain their quality, potatoes should be kept at 7°C. If they want to keep the product sprout-free, producers have to immediately either add more sprout inhibitors or take over the climate," says Cor.
Refrigeration becoming increasingly challenging
There's great uncertainty among growers," Dries Claes adds. He is Omnivent's sales manager for Belgium and France, and at the time of writing - late October - clients were asking him how to deal with high temperatures and sprouting every day. "Added to that, of course, are concerns about high electricity costs and possibly gas for heating. The initial storage phase is vital for the rest of the storage period. Prices in Belgium and France are pretty good, so producers are trying to sell as much of their produce as they can off-land."
Cor says, due to climate change, refrigeration is becoming increasingly challenging. "It's not just the temperature, but also its impact. Our storage computer, OmniCuro, makes storage easier. And the latest version, OmniCuro V5, is now available. Users can see, at a glance, what's happening in the cell. That's thanks to sensors that measure temperature, humidity, and CO2. It provides plenty of additional, new data. For example, a storage facility's CO2 levels determine how well French fries fry. The higher that level, the more chance of fried color deviation. The EMS (Energy Management System) controls are characteristically flexible. This self-correcting control system thinks for itself and warns itself. The computer instructs users instead of the other way around."
Using optimal energy optimally
Omnivent has introduced this EMS alongside the OmniCuro V5. That system measures when and how much electricity is available and determines how to use it optimally at any given moment. "Many companies now have solar panels on their roofs or a wind turbine. No one uses cheap power at night anymore. Nowadays, it's better to cool and condense during the day to optimally absorb your own generated power. A unique feature of our EMS is that it can prioritize. The system measures how much energy is available, knows how much is needed per cell, and then calculates what it can be best used for at that time according to the priorities you set," Cor explains.
Linking the EMS to the OmniCuro V5 means the system knows the exact levels in the cells. The system makes choices, using that data and the amount of energy available at that moment. It can, for instance, begin slowly cooling one cell to divert power to another. "Seed potato growers now control their products perfectly. They may, even temporarily, use the electricity for their processing lines. By using their available power more efficiently, users can slightly push the limit of that available energy," adds Dries.
Solution-orientated mindset
The sales managers say the energy crisis is pushing up demand for the system. "Producers want even more sustainable, clever storage and cooling. Omnivent is proud that our technologies allowed for good product storage under all conditions, but current energy prices aren't helping. Yet, Western European growers' resilience is becoming evident. Continuing to look ahead along with our customers and having a solution-orientated mindset: that's our joint strength," they conclude.
Cor van Maanen
Cor.Van.Maanen@omnivent.nl
Dries Claes
Dries.Claes@omnivent.nl
Omnivent
Morseweg 1
3899 BP Zeewolde
T: +31 36 522 2177
E: info@omnivent.nl
W: www.omnivent.nl