Netherlands: Another natural germination inhibitor used in seed potato cultivation is in danger.

Officially, the Ctgb has not yet made a statement about the re-registration, but the chance that another crucial agent for seed potato growers will disappear is great.

At the end of February, the Ctgb reported that the approval period for Talent had been extended by one year to 1 June 2026. The approval expired on 1 June 2025, but ’no decision can be taken within the approval period outside the will of the approval holder’, as can be read in the Staatscourant.

Official response

Adama received additional questions from the assessment body during the renewal process about the use of Talent. The company has performed several additional studies, but that will not lead to a re-registration. Officially, the company has not yet received a final decision on this from the Ctgb. However, Adama has already pre-sorted and sent all distributors a message about this possible scenario in early April.

Kevin de Lange, product specialist for Talent at Adama, calls it a major blow to the entire seed potato sector. The active ingredient carvone is permitted in the EU until 31 July 2034. Talent is only registered in the Netherlands, due to the importance of the seed potato sector here. Carvone has a natural origin and is extracted from caraway seeds, but also from dill, for example. The substance is used in numerous applications. From soap to skin cream and therefore also as a ’crop protection product’. At least that is how it is registered. The fact that carvone has a sprout-inhibiting effect, mainly to prevent top sprout dominance in seed potatoes, has been known and extensively tested in the Netherlands for thirty years.

Hard blow

That such a product is being discontinued is a bitter pill to swallow, De Lange also believes. "We understand very well that the Ctgb has a strict registration procedure for all products. We are absolutely not opposed to that. Still, it is strange that you are allowed to eat caraway seed, but apparently you are not allowed to use it in potato storage. The loss is great for the entire seed potato sector. It was also widely used in organic cultivation."

As alternatives to sprout inhibition, growers have ethylene and mechanical cooling to choose from. However, they cannot be directly compared, De Lange knows. "Seed potato trading houses know that certain varieties respond better to Talent and others to ethylene. Growers have also invested in storage specifically for Talent, which is often also rented out to colleagues. The impact on those companies is therefore very great. We can already hear that from the many responses. Ultimately, the sector as a whole will pay the bill. Talent has proven to deliver more tubers per plant. That means more seed potatoes and more kilos, which you will soon miss."

Loose screws

How things will continue with Talent is also a matter of guesswork for Adama. Without re-registration, there will probably be a use-up period for the product, which will be completely banned after a certain date. In the meantime, people in the seed potato sector fear the use of other sprout inhibitors. Because can additional questions be asked about them? Crucial products could be called into question in this way. And this while the supply of substances is already shrinking year after year.