Comparative assessment of nutritional value and safety of potatoes grown on agricultural enterprises using conventional and organic technologies

Background. Potatoes are consumed worldwide and rank after rice, wheat, and maize as a food crop for human consumption. Potato is one of the main products widely used in the diet of the population of the Russian Federation due to its availability and high nutritional value. Its nutritional benefits are determined by a balanced ratio of the most important nutrients (vitamins, macro- and microelements, starch, protein and antioxidants). The quality of potato protein is higher than that of any other intensively consumed plant protein. According to the Federal Service for State Statistics (Rosstat), potato consumption per capita in Russia is estimated at 84 kg per year, while the consumption norm approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation is 90 kg per person per year. Moreover, studies have shown that the phenotypes of crops, including potatoes, when grown using conventional and organic technologies can have differences not only in yield and disease resistance, but also in nutritional value. Purpose. To compare physicochemical parameters of potatoes produced by agricultural enterprises under conventional and organic technologies and to evaluate their nutritional value and safety. Materials and methods. The subjects of the study were samples of conventional and organic potatoes of five varieties: "Karelia", "Bernina", "Colette", "Colombo", "Red Scarlett", grown on agricultural enterprises in the Leningrad and Novgorod regions. Physicochemical indicators were determined in the studied samples. Tests were conducted at the FBUZ "Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region". Statistical processing of the data was carried out using MS Excel 2016. Results. For the first time the data of physicochemical analysis of samples of 5 (five) potato varieties produced by conventional and organic technologies by agricultural enterprises of the North-West region of the Russian Federation, allowed to confirm its safety in the presence of a number of xenobiotics. It was found that the indicators of nutritional value of the studied potato varieties, in addition to cultivation technology, are dependent on other factors of production. As an example, let us take the variety "Colombo", grown under conventional technology and containing potassium 2 times more, compared with a similar variety produced under organic production conditions (Novgorod region). Conclusion. The results of the study allow us to give an objective assessment of safety indicators for a number of xenobiotics in potatoes produced under conventional and organic technologies. Safety indicators are within the permissible level, fixed by the legislation of the Russian Federation. It was found that the nutritional value of potatoes produced by organic method, was depending on the choice of variety, place of growth and for some indicators did not exceed the similar assessment data of potatoes grown under conventional technology. In addition, we have identified a number of hygienic problems on cultivation of vegetable products with the help of organic technology.