15AGRITECHCAT3 SafePod: New technology for intelligent control of fresh produce storage

Longer-term storage extends the marketing period for UK grown apples and pears, but is an increasing challenge as restrictions on chemical use become more stringent. One route to achieve this is low O2 storage, but this is risky due to the possibility of low O2 damage. By providing the means to detect the onset of stress in stored apples, SafePod enables storage closer to the tolerance limits of atmospheric composition, thus improving fruit quality and minimising losses due to
disorders.
SafePod detects stress through changes in respiratory characteristics that indicate a switch to damaging anaerobic respiration. SafePod is a chamber placed within a fruit store which holds a sample of fruit representative of the whole store consignment. The SafePod atmosphere can be isolated from that of the whole store, and so that the respiratory characteristics of fruit can be measured using new-generation gas sensors.
The key research component within this project is to determine the relationship between the changes in the respiratory characteristics of the fruit and the optimum storage environment. This is expected to differ by fruit variety according to tissue characteristics such as density and mineral composition, and also to be highly dependent on fruit maturity. The researchers will work closely with the rest of the consortium to optimise the use of the prototype SafePod in growers' stores and to provide Best Practice Guides on how to translate the SafePod data to optimise storage strategies.

Over 170 k tonnes of apples and pears are stored annually in the UK. In the absence of post-harvest chemicals, losses due to poor quality and disease are estimated at 3-15%. The project will deliver a new engineering solution to reduce losses. By monitoring metabolic status of fruit, SafePod will allow growers to use lower storage O2 concentrations than currently achievable, extending storage-life of fruit without risking damage. The project will optimise the use of the prototype SafePod in growers' stores and under lab conditions to define optimum storage for different apple and pear varieties and operating conditions for SafePod. The project brings together post-harvest researchers, storage engineers, growers and the retail sector to deliver better quality fruit to the consumer and reduce waste. The global market for SafePod is huge, with potential markets in UK and worldwide includingUSA/Canada, Australia, Europe and India.

Longer-term storage extends the marketing period for UK grown apples, but is an increasing challenge as restrictions on chemical use become more stringent. One route to achieve this is low O2 storage, but this is risky due to the possibility of low O2 damage. By providing the means to detect the onset of stress in stored apples, SafePod enables storage closer to the tolerance limits of atmospheric composition, thus improving fruit quality and minimising losses due to disorders. The
ouputs of this project will therefore have practical implications for the fresh produce industry.

SafePod introduction is timely as the long-term storage potential of apples (4-12 months) has been compromised by loss of post-harvest chemicals resulting in 3-15% (£3-15 million) losses of the stored UK crop. The SafePod system can deliver an estimated of £3-6 million cost saving through reduction in waste in the UK alone. With a 40 % rise in in two of UK's major apple vars. Gala and Braeburn, there is a large economic gain in extended storage/ marketing period.

SafePod will be equally effective in extending storage life of a wide range of apple and pear varieties, and in monitoring storage health of other commodities (potato, onion, stone fruit, avocado, cabbage and beans). Costing ~£5K for a unit and a lifespan of 15 years is cost competitive.

Consumers and retailers will both benefit from increased sales of UK fruit with improved quality and greater seasonal availability.

The SafePod will reduce economic waste of downgraded fruit and lower the incidence of post-harvest diseases and physiological disorders that reduce growers profitability. All of this will be achieved with a reduced dependence on chemical use. The reduction in losses constitutes an energy saving.
ICA will benefit from sales of SafePods within the UK and overseas. Short-term benefits of £7M are estimated. In addition a modified stand-alone lab-based 'LabPod' will be developed, suitable for CA research facilities. SafePod's advantage is easy integration into existing ICA storage equipment used extensively in the UK (90%) making adoption cost effective.

The research will provide insights that will have applications beyond top fruit storage. For example it will provide insight into the impact of tissue structure on gas exchange and how this in turn impacts on metabolic response to stresses of extreme controlled atmosphere conditions. This could have applications beyond fruit to other bulky commodities such as potato.