DormFresh Ltd., in partnership with TASC International (Germany) GmbH, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Trial and Research Center in Rosche, Lower Saxony, as part of a broader push to develop sustainable alternatives to chemical sprout inhibitors banned under recent EU regulations.

The new facility represents a €600,000 investment and includes six gas-tight storage chambers equipped with fully automated climate control systems for temperature, humidity and CO₂ levels. The 310-square-meter center offers a total capacity of 36 tons, enabling precise, repeatable storage condition simulations.

The initiative comes in response to the European Union’s ban on chlorpropham (CIPC), the long-time industry standard for sprout control. As such, the center is designed to support both research and regulatory trial work for new sprout inhibitors intended for EU approval, including trials under Good Experimental Practice (GEP) and ISO standards.

Lars Willem Köpp, Managing Director of TASC International (Germany) GmbH, said the center plays a vital role in “bridging product development with commercial reality,” highlighting its function in both scientific validation and operational scaling. “This joint facility allows us to align product innovation with the practical needs of our storage and trading partners,” Köpp added.

DormFresh, part of the 1,4GROUP, is best known for its 1,4SIGHT® product, a naturally occurring compound used to suppress sprouting in stored potatoes. The company has long focused on storage quality, shelf-life extension, and sustainable practices in post-harvest potato management.

The collaboration with TASC International is expected to strengthen both firms’ positions in the European market by improving supply chain integration, boosting quality control capabilities, and supporting regulatory compliance. Initial trials are already underway, and both companies anticipate the new facility will contribute to setting industry benchmarks in sustainable storage.

DormFresh Ltd. was founded in 2000 and operates internationally through its affiliation with 1,4GROUP, Inc. The company combines scientific research with practical application to deliver value-added storage solutions. TASC International (Germany) GmbH, a global potato trading firm, partners with DormFresh to further enhance its expertise in quality assurance and sustainability across the potato supply chain.