Post Harvest Quality Control: Sensing Device For Monitoring Volatile Organic Compounds In (Cold) Storage Rooms
Shoseyov Oded, HUJI, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Plant Sciences and Genetics
Shumeiko Vladislav, HUJI, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Plant Sciences and Genetics
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Category |
Agriculture, Post Harvest |
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Keywords |
Post harvest waste, volatile compound sensing |
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Current development stage |
General list: TRL3 Experimental proof of concept |
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Collaboration Opportunity |
Sponsored Research with an option to License Research Results |
Background
Modern postharvest cooling and storing facilities enable the short- and long-term storage of various fruits and vegetables, sometimes for over 6-7 months. Unfortunately, outbreaks of fungal and bacterial diseases cause spoilage of stored products, leading to a worldwide loss of between 5% and 40% of fruits and vegetables, even when stored in adequate conditions. Currently, early detection of spoilage and monitoring of diseases relies on inefficient, labor intensive and expensive manual inspection.
Our Innovation
Our researchers have developed technology to aid in monitoring fruits and vegetables during storage and allow for more informed decision-making. The new opto-chemical sensor can detect distinct volatile organic compounds (VOC) and distinguish between healthy and diseased VOCs profiles in harvested produce, like tubers.
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Early detection of disease to support facility manager decision-making.
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Highly specific to food-borne pathogens.
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The device is reusable and cost-effective.
Technology
The technology is based on artificial intelligence (AI) assisted spectrometry analysis of the volatile molecules in the storage facilities. The developed device continuously monitors the air in the cold rooms and warehouses, providing real-time data and enabling early detection of spoilage products. The detection principle is based on recognizing VOCs pattern and not on detection of specific VOCs, thus enabling faster and cheaper system adaptation to various conditions.
Opportunity
The researchers are seeking partners from the industry to sponsor the continued development of this technology and its commercialization.
