A PROJECT looking at ways of turning potato waste into high value compounds that can be used for cosmetics, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, is under way.
Funded by Innovate UK through the Launchpad: Bio-based Manufacturing – Scotland programme, this project brings together industry expertise from grower-owned co-operative Grampian Growers Ltd, with researchers from the University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton Institute.
The Scottish seed potato industry, worth £24.2 million, generates more than 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.
The project aims to extract solanesol from the discarded shaws, a compound vital for producing coenzyme Q10 and vitamin K2, key ingredients in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical products.
Currently sourced mainly from tobacco, solanesol demand has soared from 4,000 tonnes in the early 2000s to 66,000 tonnes by 2022. It’s hoped the current project will povide an ethical, sustainable alternative to tobacco which could create new income streams for Scottish growers, enabling them to make more complete use of the potato biomass.
With 12,800 hectares of seed potatoes grown in Scotland, the industry could yield up to 120 tonnes of solanesol annually.
Supported by, Alder BioInsights’ strategic consultancy and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society’s (SAOS) cooperative expertise, the consortium is driving new commercial opportunities in sustainable biomanufacturing across Scotland and the UK.
Project Lead at Grampian Growers, Sofia Alexiou, 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.”
Honorary Chair at the University of Aberdeen, Professor Giovanna Bermano, who will collaborate on the project said: “This pioneering research lays the foundation for future innovation, ensuring that the UK is at the forefront of developing sustainable, eco-friendly natural products for the cosmeceutical sector.
“By demonstrating how agricultural by products can be transformed into high value compounds, the project sets the stage for subsequent research and commercialisation that will drive innovation, reduce environmental impact, and secure a competitive advantage for UK science and industry.”
Professor Heather Wilson, Chair in Immunology at University of Aberdeen, added: “Exploring the quality and yield of solanesol extracted from locally sourced potato shaws—and evaluating its potential applications across the cosmeceutical and related industries represents an exciting and impactful area of research.
“This work not only supports the transition to ethical, tobacco-free sourcing of high-value compounds, but also advances sustainable innovation showcasing how science can unlock new value from agricultural by-products and strengthen the resilience of rural communities across Scotland and beyond.”
