Novel system to improve grape quality & shelf life, reduce waste & increase supplier income

葡萄束可能含有各种大碎片，如蜘蛛、网以及病毒、细菌和霉菌等病原体(以及它们产生的毒素)。这些可能会带来许多不同的问题，包括：·加速水果的腐烂和缩短货架寿命--47%的葡萄在使用结束时受到腐烂和霉菌的影响(MMUK数据)；·对人体健康构成危害；·对英国各地的零售商和批发商造成超过GB 39兆帕的经济损失；·通过包装和销售之间的产品损失和更换客户双关语，其中不想要的碎片(例如。存在危险的蜘蛛/网)或腐烂的水果；·在包装和消费之间造成每年多达12,900吨葡萄的浪费(MMUK Data&WRAP，2008年)。我们的目标是开发一种新的技术，能够识别和去除葡萄中的碎片，并杀死可能导致水果腐烂和货架期缩短的微生物。预计该技术的好处将包括：·将葡萄货架寿命延长2天；·在包装和销售之间减少50%的葡萄废物(如果整个英国葡萄市场采用GrapeWash，则每年减少5,250吨)；·通过减少葡萄废物，每年减少1,575吨的二氧化碳排放。

Grape bunches can contain a variety of large debris, such as spiders, webs as well as pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and molds (and the toxins that they produce). These can present a number of different problems, including: • Accelerate rotting of fruit & reduce shelf life - 47% of grapes are affected at end of life by rots and molds (MMUK data); • Represent a human health hazard; • Generate economic losses in excess of £39 mpa for retailers and wholesalers throughout the UK; through produce losses between packing & sale and replacing customer punnets where unwanted debris (eg. dangerous spiders/webs) or rotten fruit is present; • Cause waste of up to 12,900 tonnes of grapes per annum between packing and consumption (MMUK data & WRAP, 2008). Our aim is to develop a novel technology which will recognise and remove debris from grapes as well as kill micro-organisms which may cause fruit rotting and decreased shelf life. It is envisaged the benefits of the technology will include: • Extension of grape shelf life by 2 days; • Reduce grape waste by 50% between packing and sale (5,250 tonnes per annum if GrapeWash is adopted by the entire UK grape market); • Reduce CO2 emissions by 1,575 tonnes per annum through reducing grape waste.