Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF)
Enhanced Preservation of Fruits using Nanotechnology
Dr. K.S. Subramanian Professor
Department of Nano Science & Technology Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
Post Harvest Losses of Fruits & Vegetables Wide Gap Between Demand and Supply
Per capita availability (in grams)
0
100
200
300
400
500
Requirement Availability
400
265
India World’s 2nd largest producer (Fruits : 81.3 mt; Vegetables : 161 mt) Post harvest loss : 30-35% Value : Rs. 200,000 Cr. (33.3 Billion USD)
(Source : PTI, 2013)
Africa Post Harvest Losses (Grains : 25% ; Perishables : 50%) Value : 4 Billion USD (Eq. Food for 48 million People)
(Source : FAO, 2013)
Minimizing losses may ensure food and nutritional security
Improper Post Harvest Practices in Mango
Harvesting
Phenolic Injury
Assembling
Transport
IDRC – CIFSRF Hexanal Technology For Enhanced Preservation
Control Treated
Fruit retained in orchards for 3 weeks longer Shelf-life of fruits got extended for another 3 weeks Lucrative price for late arrivals Less incidence of pests and diseases
Control Treated
Banana Nano-Fibre Matrix to Regulate Hexanal
DC power supplyInfusion pump
Carrier polymer solution
Spinneret
Collector Electrospun fiberElectrospun fiber attached to the box
Electrospun Fibre Nano-Matrix
University of Guelph, Canada Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India