Progress 07/01/23 to 02/29/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience - the entire true fruit post-harvest value chain, including cold transportation, cold storage, delivery to and from storage facilities and potentially commercial and consumer point-of-sale, including mixed fruit / vegetable refrigerated grocery store and similar. Our Phase I will be focused on apple cold storage facilities, we have identified several local growers in Connecticut that will work with us to demonstrate our ethylene control technology. For Phase II, we have identified a potential partner for assessing our device in long-distance cold transportation in 40' trailers. Changes/Problems:Set out in the Phase I proposal, we planned to evaluate our ethylene control device at a New England-based University and at local growers. Due to delays in contracting, project funds were not available until 8/30/2023. During this time delay, the University apple test facility was shuttered and remains unavailable indefinitely. Additionally, we are not able to enter local growers' facilities during peak fall/winter harvest times. Consequently, to conduct field testing for proof of concept of our approach we require access to apple research and grower facilities during late winter / spring time frames. 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? End March, 2024: Contact local growers to arrange details on field testing. Finish build-out of in-house testing equipment. Design field portable test device. End May, 2024 Identify university or Ag-extension apple research facility, determine appropriateness for cooperative work. Firm commitments for testing at local grower facilities. Build and test field portable device. Complete initial phase of testing on in-house device. Determine best metrics for apple evaluation and quality. End of August, 2024: Complete in-house performance and process studies Complete local grower and/or apple research facility field evaluations End of December, 2024: Complete cost analysis studies, evaluate requirements for larger scale and commercial size devices. Complete partnering remaining commercialization activities. End of project, February 28, 2025: Finish remaining evaluations and tasks Submit final report
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments by goal: A) we have identified and sourced both lab and transportable equipment for measuring ethylene and evaluating performance of our ethylene control device. E) TABA has been completed. Below lists the highlights of the TABA report, which can be made available to NIFA on request. ?Commercial ethylene control products exist in the market, namely the pre-cold-storage chemical treatments PCI is intent to replace. Charmingly, the market players are small, specialty companies, not the well-known agrochemical behemoths. There are a couple of top players, but the industry is still fragmented. Within the commercial ethylene absorber market, the environment control system dominates the type-segment as of year 2021, these systems would be pricey compared with sachets. Nine companies were identified as manufacturing mechanical control systems for ethylene. A number of the companies also offer an HVAC module for ethylene extraction. Background - Ethylene Sensitive Crops: Over two billion tons of fruits and vegetables are produced annually, yet almost half of fruits and vegetables are lost or wasted with 22% lost in the supply chain post-harvest to distribution. A respiratory increase in a fleshy fruit -- which is preceded, or accompanied, by a rise in ethylene --is called a "climacteric." A key difference between climacteric and non-climacteric fleshy fruits (particularly for commercial production) is that climacteric fruits continue to ripen following their harvest, whereas non-climacteric fruits and vegetables do not. There are marked differences in the development of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. Climacteric fruit are those who's ripening can still be achieved even if the fruit has been harvested at the end of their growth period (prior to ripening on the parent plant). Examples of climacteric fruits include apples, bananas, melons, mangos, apricots, tomatoes, avocados as well as most stone fruits. The accumulation of starch over the initial stages of climacteric fruit development may be a key issue, as starch can be converted to sugars after harvest. Cut flowers are known to produce ethylene gas. When flowers are cut from the plant, they can continue to produce ethylene, which can affect their vase life and overall quality. Non-climacteric fruits ripen without ethylene and respiration bursts, the ripening process is slower, and for the most part they will not be able to ripen if the fruit is not attached to the parent plant. Non-climacteric fruits include citrus fruits, cranberries, grapes, raspberries, pineapple, and strawberries. That said, non-climacteric melons and apricots do exist. Grapes and strawberries harbor several active ethylene receptors, although they are generally not considered ethylene sensitive. Cabbage and brussels sprouts will turn yellow or crack and start to grow, carrots develop a bitter flavor due to ethylene-induced isocoumarin production and cucumbers deteriorate quicker. Snap beans and peas in a pod are sensitive to ethylene, but lima beans are not. Seeds may be affected. Early potatoes are not sensitive to ethylene, but late potatoes and sweet potatoes are. Lettuce is extremely sensitive to ethylene gas. Fruits and flowers that produce ethylene and those that are sensitive to ethylene make up a large subset of perishable fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Ethylene sensitivity drives transportation and logistics choices. In Phase I, the primary focus will be on apples. Apples have a very long storage life and are ethylene sensitive. They are climacteric fruits and produce ethylene during storage. Apples are stored at high humidity and below 40 oF. Maintaining proper moisture levels helps slow down the natural ripening process and enzymatic activities that contribute to deterioration. PCI will establish a proof of concept through testing under environmental conditions typical of local apple storage facilities. Additionally, PCI will engage with food distribution centers that deal with mixed produce refrigeration, as well as long-distance and international refrigerated shipping. Phase will add pre-commercial field tests extending beyond apples. The benefits offered by this approach includes a reduction in the need for or the complete elimination of pre-cold-storage chemical treatments. For apples, the ethylene absorber market leader is 1-Methylcyclopropane. So called MCP-1 is conventionally applied to mitigate apple ethylene respiration and curb superficial scald formation. The project's success would empower growers to transition towards cultivating more organic and healthier apples. This shift would result in lower fruit handling costs due to reduced ventilation requirements, as well as diminished damage and losses. PCI's projections indicate that similar enhancements can be expected for other tree fruits that are less suited for cold storage, such as plums and peaches. Furthermore, the benefits extend to vegetables, cut flowers, and scenarios where mixed produce needs to be stored within refrigerated spaces. Given that all other necessary conditions are met, the utilization of our system could offer growers the opportunity to venture into organic produce cultivation more readily. This could potentially lead to significantly increased profits by avoiding the need for chemical ethylene control. Commercial Potential: The total addressable market for the primary application of this technology comes from published reports by industry analysts. The estimate is global market size for PCI and for all competitors. The demand for organic fruits and vegetables has grown in recent years as consumers have become more aware of the potential health and environmental benefits of organic farming practices. Organic products are often perceived as healthier and more environmentally friendly than conventionally grown products. Globally, the Organic Fruits and Vegetables Market was valued at $39.5 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 68.5 Billion by 2028. Organic Fruits and Vegetables Industry is expected to increase significantly compared to the forecast period's market, with a CAGR of 8.2%.The US holds roughly 41% of that market, followed by Europe. Organic vegetables are 61% of that market. Fresh Organic Apple Market: According to US Apple, the apple is the #1 fruit eaten in the US. All 50 states grow apples, although only 32 grow them commercially. In the U.S. 67% of the apple crop is grown for fresh consumption. Globally, Fresh Apple Market size is estimated at $99 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach $109 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 2%. Other studies predict a 4% CAGR. The higher-income groups in these regions are even willing to pay additional amounts, with an aim to safeguard their health conditions. While US acreage and production of apples have declined in recent years, consumer demand has spurred a fast-growing organic apple sector. According to Ag Marketing Resource Center, in 2021, apples managed under certified organic farming systems accounted for about 7% of total US apple acreage. The retail prices for fresh organic apples was, on average, 40% higher than for conventional fresh apples. Controlling Superficial Scald: Superficial scald is a physiological disorder causing brown or black patches on fruit skin that appears during or after storage on apples and pears. Fruit with scald is also called russetted fruit. At least partial control of the disorder can be obtained from application of antioxidants, especially the commonly used diphenylamine (DPA), as well as low oxygen storage; scald development is assumed to be an oxidative process.
Publications
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