Biotechnology and extension of shelf life in food.
Biotechnology can be used to convert nonedible and perishable food item to palatable and longer shelf life food, which is safe and of high quality in terms of nutrition and physicochemical and sensory properties.
This is possible through preventing the growth of unwanted toxin-producing microorganisms naturally present in foods, production of antimicrobial agents to kill undesirable putrefactive microorganisms.
New techniques employed to extend the shelf life of agricultural products include:
1.Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), which substitutes the atmospheric air inside a package with a protective gas mix to help extend product freshness.
2.Controlled Atmosphere Storage (CAS) where the concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen,as well as the temperature and humidity of a storage room are regulated.
3.Cold Chain Technology (CCT), which is an unbroken temperature - controlled supply chain that carries produce through uninterrupted series of refrigerated production, storage and distribution steps.
4.Thermal Post harvest Treatments, such as a hot water dip, saturated water vapour heat or hotdry air. These are linked to a reduction in chilling and a delay in the ripening process and can also kill insects and delay the onset of fungal decay.
5.Edible coatings which are thin external coatings applied to the surface of fresh produce. They help prevent moisture loss on the surface of produce during post harvest storage, and function as gas barriers which slow respiration, aging and enzymatic oxidation.
Temperature, humidity and packaging tools can be used to monitor and extend the shelf life of the agricultural products. Temperature tools include thermometers, thermos-hygrometers and devices to measure product firmness and sugar content
Packaging tools
They include different types of modified atmosphere,commonly employed method injects oxygen,carbon dioxide and nitrogen into pallet covers which results in modification of air surrounding the agricultural products. Alternatively additives can be directly incorporated into pallet wraps covering the product e.g ethylene adsorption packaging.
● Temperature and humidity monitoring tools, as well as ethylene packaging tools have significantly contributed to increasing shelf life of agricultural products and minimizing loses
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