ISCF WAVE 1 AGRI TECH: Low cost sensors to reduce storage losses

在英国，洋葱储存腐烂导致每年损失20%的作物，根据平均价格计算，价值约650万英镑。在作物储存期间有效地检测腐烂将有助于做出更好的管理决策，减少损失。然而，在大型商店环境中检测初期腐烂是有问题的，并且经常在注意到腐烂并将受影响的板条箱或盒子移除之前，腐烂将很好地进行。受病原体影响的植物材料会散发出挥发性物质，这些物质可以被检测到并用于指示存在问题。然而，检测系统是昂贵的并且难以在商店环境中部署足够数量。在这项研究项目中，我们将开发一种标准的病原体挑战洋葱材料，这将用于开发一种新型的印刷电子传感器，然后在一系列故意引入病原体的小规模洋葱储存单元中验证传感器的有效性。传感器具有相对便宜的优点，因此可以大规模部署在商业存储单元中，用于有效和灵敏地检测正在发展的腐烂。

Onion storage rots in the UK result in annual losses of 20% of the crop, worth approximately £6.5 million based on an average price. Detecting rots effectively while the crop is in store would enable better management decisions to be made and losses reduced. However, detecting incipient rots in a large store environment is problematic and frequently rots will be well advanced before they are noticed and affected crates or boxes removed. Plant material affected by pathogens causing rots emits volatile substances which can be detected and used to indicate that a problem is present. Detection systems are however expensive and difficult to deploy in sufficient numbers in a store environment. In this research project, we will develop a standard pathogen challenged onion material which will feed into the development of a novel printed electronic sensor, and then validate the effectiveness of the sensor in a series of small scale onion storage units where patogens have been deliberately introduced. The sensors have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive, and thus can be massively deployed in commercial storage units for effective and sensitive detection of developing rots.