Novel Technology And Device To Enhance The Shelf-Life Of Fruits

October 12, 2021: Fruits and vegetables are an essential source of nutrients, but they are perishable. Every year, India loses several thousand crores due to a lack of cost-effective storage technologies. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the post-harvest losses range from 20 to 44 per cent.

To tackle these problems, a research team headed by Dr. Jagadis Gupta Kapuganti, Scientist at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, an Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India, has deviced an efficient, cost-effective and safer technology to enhance the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables.

When fruits such as mangoes, banana, chikoo, pears, custard apple figs, and blueberry ripe, they get easily spoiled due to enhanced respiratory metabolism and the production of an excess gaseous hormone called ethylene. Further Dr Kapuganti’s team discovered a pathway that operates in leaves and produces a gaseous signalling molecule called nitric oxide. He invented a formula that can stimulate physiological levels of nitric oxide production from natural leaves and can delay ripening. The invented formula can generate nitric oxide in very low quantities steadily, keeping the mineral and vitamin content intact while inhibiting ethylene production. Using this innovation, he developed a ‘Shelf-life enhancer’ device to enhance the shelf-life of produce for several days to weeks. Moreover, this device does not require refrigeration.

Using several cheaper materials such as recycled plastic, wood the team has developed several devices which can be used at harvesting sites, transportation storage facilities and retail outlets. This device will help in doubling the income of farmers and retailers.

The team has filed several national and international patents for this technology and are aiming to accelerate the development of devices via their start-up Fruvetech Pvt Ltd.

The work is supported by Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) from Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and incubated the product at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi).