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