Microbial Management of Fresh Produce: Preservation, Protection & Intervention

This project aims to improve commercial practices in maintaining produce quality and reducing waste within the food supply chain. A novel environmentally friendly antimicrobial solution will be developed and delivered using unique fogging and spraying technology. These solutions will be used to wash, fog and/or spray fresh fruit and vegetables to reduce the number of microorganisms that could cause spoilage (reducing food wastage). This approach will also help reduce the presence of microorganisms capable of causing foodborne diseases, increasing food safety. The delivered antimicrobial solutions ultimately revert to salt and water, and so are compatible with wide-spread use as a surface disinfectant within industry processes. Collectively the use of this technology to control food associated microorganisms will result in significant positive impacts on the food supply chain.