Technology background
The losses and waste of fruit in Brazil represent 10 A 60% of the total produced in the country, causing great financial losses for all representatives of its production chain and raising the final cost of the product to the consumer. In Brazil there is a waste of 26 million tons of food per year. According to FAO data – Food and Agriculture Organization, this volume would be enough to feed 35 millions of people.
Technology description
The present invention presents a solution for the preservation of fruits through the production of a hydrophobic modified starch, used as the protective layer, and thus preserving the freshly harvested fruits for longer.
Problem Fixed
The high moisture content makes some agricultural products, like fruits, have the perishability feature much sharper than other products, as grains. In this case the service life of the fruit becomes much shorter.
Applications
– Storage of fruits;
– Paper industry;
– Embedded;
– Vegetable conservation;
– Skulls;
– Perishable products.
Advantages
– As for the raw material, o Brasil, is the second largest starch producer in the world.
– Regarding the process, starch does not demand a cooking process in the industry.
– Regarding the hydrophobic characteristic, doubling the shelf-life food;
– productivity, a ton of cooked natural starch is able to protect 2 million fruit; Now modified starch 5,5 million fruit.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL – Technology Readiness Level)
Status and opportunity
Patent application filed with the INPI under No. BR 10 2020 017972-1
Inventors
Fernando Henrique Lermen
Tania Maria Coelho
Nabi Assad Son
José Luis Duarte Ribeiro
Marcia Elisa Soares Echeveste
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