Technical Abstract: This short summary of our research program was initiated at the request of the publishers of Potato Grower magazine and will be published together with related articles describing other potato-related research. The nature of dormancy is discussed as is the cellular basis and our research strategy. It is concluded that dormancy is the result of restricted cell division which in turn is the result of specific changes in protein synthesis ultimately controlled by plant hormones. Our approach is to determine the changes and relevance of both protein synthesis and endogenous hormones. These results will be indispensable in future efforts to genetically modify the dormancy period of commercial potato varieties.