Source: PHOTIA INCORPORATED submitted to NRP
REDUCING FOOD WASTE USING NOVEL NANOENGINEERED PACKAGING THAT COOLS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1028424
Grant No.
2022-40000-36939
Cumulative Award Amt.
$175,000.00
Proposal No.
2022-00765
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2022
Project End Date
Feb 29, 2024
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[8.5]- Food Science & Nutrition
Recipient Organization
PHOTIA INCORPORATED
1933 DAVIS ST STE 277
SAN LEANDRO,CA 945771265
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The science around extending produce shelf-life is well established.Cooling produce to appropriately low temperatures as quickly as possible and maintaining the cold chain(producer - distributor - retailer - consumer) extends itsshelf life. Two weak links in the chain that limit shelf-life are at harvest and during transport transfers (rewarming) where produce loses water quickly when heated by the sun.The goal of this project is todevelop and make proof-of-concept testsof eco-efficient packaging to extend the shelf-life of fresh agricultural produce. This technology couldreduce postharvest losses by cooling right from harvest without the use of external energy.The packaging pods can be customized to be drop-in replacements to fit in with existing food systems infrastructure.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
50%
Developmental
25%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
50352992020100%
Knowledge Area
503 - Quality Maintenance in Storing and Marketing Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
5299 - Agricultural supplies, general/other;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is the development and initial prototypingof eco-efficient packaging to extend shelf-life of fresh agricultural produce and reduce postharvest losses by cooling right from harvest without the use of external energy. Included in this development goals are key pillars of the related manufacturing technology needed to make the end product affordable.The objectives for the project are as follows.Materials selection and design to achieve remittance control for key functional layers of the packaging pod.Materials selection and process development for multilayer integration.Develop functional prototype instrumented pod to demonstrate cooling below ambient in daylight in different target climate conditions.Demonstrate proof of concept shelf life extension for highly perishable produce (e.g. lettuce, strawberry, or other).
Project Methods
The following methods will be used as needed to evaluate the pod materials. Thermal conductivity measurements can be made with standard techniques, such as the 3-omegaor transient plane source methods. Infrared material properties, such as absorbance, reflectance, and transmittance can be measured via a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. From these data the emittance can be inferred from Kirchoff's law as being equal to the absorbance. The ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared (UV-V-NIR) material properties, including absorbance, reflectance, and transmittance can be measured via spectroscopy. Both specular and total reflectance can be measured using an integrating sphere, and angle-resolved forms of this technique are available.The following methods will be used as needed to evaluate the basic functionality of prototype pod(s).We will instrument the podwith temperature and humidity sensors and a data acquisitionsystem to test itboth in laboratory and field conditions. We will measure air temperature, interior wall temperature at one or more places, ambient air temperature, and humidity. Field conditions will include several geographical locations, for example Fresno, Salinas, Butte and Watsonville. Resistance to rewarming will be tested as well. We will identify and purchase similarly sized containers from agricultural suppliers for use as controls.The following methods will be used as needed to evaluate prototype pod performance with a produce payload. For this test we will choose one or two highly perishable types of produce (e.g. lettuce and/or strawberry).Temperature and relative humidity will be monitored as with the previous tests. In addition, we will monitor produce quality as a function of time which couldincluding weight loss, Brix (as applicable), firmness, decay and so forth. We will compare with control containers placed in identical conditions.

Progress 07/01/23 to 02/28/24

Outputs
Target Audience:One target audience was materials engineers working on synthesis and patterning films for radiative cooling. Postharvest experts were another target audience since they are important for evaluation and dissemination of new technology to the farming community. The ultimate target audience for this research was small farmers of crops that are particularly sensitive to temperature during postharvest processing and shipping (e.g. leafy greens such as lettuce and fruit such as cherry, strawberry, blueberry). Changes/Problems:The project achieved objective 1 and most of objective 2. The principal investigator (PI) took private sector job in April 2023, as communicated to USDA in March 2023, and was no longer able to serve as PI under SBIR rules. The project ended with about half the objectives accomplished and about half the resources expended. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The project achieved objective 1 and most of objective 2. The principal investigator (PI) took private sector job in April 2023, as communicated to USDA in March 2023, and was no longer able to serve as PI under SBIR rules. The project ended with about half the objectives accomplished and about half the resources expended. Further scientific details about the project accomplishments are provided in the interim and final technical reports sent to USDA via e-mail.

Publications


    Progress 07/01/22 to 02/28/24

    Outputs
    Target Audience:One target audience was materials engineers working on synthesis and patterning films for radiative cooling. Postharvest experts were another target audience since they are important for evaluation and dissemination of new technology to the farming community. The ultimate target audience for this research was small farmers of crops that are particularly sensitive to temperature during postharvest processing and shipping (e.g. leafy greens such as lettuce and fruit such as cherry, strawberry, blueberry). Changes/Problems:The principal investigator (PI) took private sector job in April 2023, as communicated to USDA in March 2023, and was no longer able to serve as PI under SBIR rules. The project ended with about half the objectives accomplished and about half the resources expended. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project employed one scientist with a bachelors degree in physics. She worked part time on the project doing materials development experiments, and is now in graduate school at the California Institute of Technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The project achieved objective 1 and most of objective 2. The principal investigator (PI) took private sector job in April 2023, as communicated to USDA in March 2023, and was no longer able to serve as PI under SBIR rules. The project ended with about half the objectives accomplished and about half the resources expended. Further scientific details about the project accomplishments are provided in the interim and final technical reports sent to USDA via e-mail.

    Publications


      Progress 07/01/22 to 06/30/23

      Outputs
      Target Audience:One target audience was materials engineers working on synthesis and patterning films for radiative cooling. Postharvest experts were another target audience since they are important for evaluation and dissemination of new technology to the farming community. The ultimate target audience for this research was small farmers of crops that are particularly sensitive to temperature during postharvest processing and shipping (e.g. leafy greens such as lettuce and fruit such as cherry, strawberry, blueberry). Changes/Problems:The principal investigator (PI) took private sector job in April 2023, as communicated to USDA in March 2023, and was no longer able to serve as PI under SBIR rules. The project ended with about half the objectives accomplished and about half the resources expended. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project employed one scientist with a bachelors degree in physics. She worked part time on the project doing materials development experiments, and is now in graduate school at the California Institute of Technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? The project achieved objective 1 and most of objective 2. The principal investigator (PI) took private sector job in April 2023, as communicated to USDA in March 2023, and was no longer able to serve as PI under SBIR rules. The project ended with about half the objectives accomplished and about half the resources expended. Further scientific details about the project accomplishments are provided in the interim and final technical reports sent to USDA via e-mail.

      Publications