Innovations in berry packaging come from the research activities of the University of Basilicata. Methods are being studied to extend their shelf life. The National Center for Agricultural Technologies, Agritech, is leading this effort, benefiting from European Union funding under the NextGenerationEU program and falling within Spoke 7 (Integrated models for the development of marginal areas to promote multifunctional production systems enhancing agroecological and socio-economic sustainability).
The project and its objectives
The research project has several objectives, including the examination of farms located in the mountainous areas of Basilicata that cultivate berries, particularly wild strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and currants; the experimentation of innovative methods for packaging and extending the shelf life of berries; and the creation of low-cost sensor networks for intelligent cultivation management.
The research is also focused on deepening the agronomic aspects of berry cultivation and the methods of harvesting and preservation.
Preliminary results
Local producers are also involved in the project, and their collaboration has led to the first experimental results. For example, to extend the shelf life of blackberries, researchers and producers have focused on some innovative packaging materials: compostable materials made from cornstarch, cassava, and eucalyptus. Additionally, a packaging system based on a protective atmosphere has been used, which employs 10% oxygen and 10% carbon dioxide.
During the storage period, various external characteristics of the fruits were monitored, such as color, size, shape, absence of defects, as well as the evolution of gas concentration in the packages, weight loss, texture, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, and some nutritional values (such as vitamins, anthocyanins, and antioxidant power).
Digital contents
The project has produced digital content—which includes protocols for sustainable post-harvest management of berries, photos and videos of the post-harvest phases, a list of materials and characteristics used for product preservation, companies, and contacts from which to source the materials—and informatic content. The latter consists of algorithms to create a smart window from which to extract information related to the general qualitative state, or specific parameters in relation to the type of packaging, product (blackberries, wild strawberries, etc.), and storage temperature.
Source: myfruit
