Targeted supply chain ethylene removal to control the development of fresh produce

新鲜的西红柿和辣椒是高价值的作物，是人类健康饮食的重要组成部分。这些产品非常容易腐烂，在生产中会出现高峰和低谷。目前采用低温来延长保质期，但保质期短，能源成本高。因此，这类产品的供应链仍然是不可接受的浪费。一种植物激素，乙烯，是成熟过程的关键，其产生可以通过使用化学品来最大限度地减少。然而，化学品的应用仍然是消费者接受的障碍;该项目将开发一种创新的非化学非接触技术，可以安全地从新鲜农产品周围的空气中去除乙烯。将进行商业规模试验和实验室调查，以确定何时以及如何安全地暂停供应链中的成熟，为消费者提供安全，高质量的营养新鲜英国生产的食品。

Fresh tomatoes and peppers are high value crops and are an important part of a healthy human diet. These products are highly perishable and are subject to peaks and troughs in production. Low temperatures are currently used to extend shelf life, but the shelf life is short and energy costs are high. As a result, the supply chain for such products remains unacceptable wasteful. A plant hormone, ethylene, is key to the ripening process, the production of which can be minimised by the use of chemicals. Chemical application however remains a barrier to consumer acceptance; the project will develop the use of an innovative non-chemical non-contact technique which safely removes ethylene from the air around fresh produce. Commercial scale trials and laboratory investigations will be conducted to establish when and how to safely suspend ripening within the supply chain to deliver safe, high quality nutritious fresh UK produced food to the consumer.