Post-harvest Technology

A major food security contribution

FBR’s position in the innovation funnel

Applied Research

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Demonstration Implementation

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Fundamental

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Knowledge Push

Market Pull

Wageningen University

FBR: a CRO Industry

ConsultancyTraining

Pilots

Food & Postharvest science for impact!!!

In 7 area’s of expertise

Post-harvest technology

Supply chain management

Food quality & analysis

Sustainable process technology

Biorefinery

Food design & structuring

Consumer science

Intelligent systems

Focus on practical results

FBR serving fresh food supply chains

Retail is the major outlet for fresh food in EU

● EU/USA: 90%

● Egypt: 3-5%

● Export to EU retail!

Retailers need large volumes

● Buying power -> comply with rigid specs

● High quality = Consistent quality

● Seasonal shift, global sourcing

● Safety: not negotiable (MRL!!!)

Global sourcing put quality at risk

Storage & transport time longer

Shelf life guarantees

No PHL and PH waste: impact food security

Fresh produce losses: 35% on average

Distributio

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Developing

countries

21% 12%

Developed

countries

11% 23%

Only minor set of Egyptian data available

?????50% tomatoes ???????

Top-10 reported causes PHL in F&V Supply Chains

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Typical

FBR

knowledge

domains

FBR’s fresh chain solutions

Cold chain: monitoring: Q, T, RH

Storage (facilities): CA, ULO, mixed load

Transport: protocols for perishable handling

Pre-cooling systems & protective package: design

Quality control, bio-markers: Q-prediction

Ripening control: RTE on demand

The FBR smart chain concept

Initial Quality

Chain condition

Quality

developmentKnown

Quality

+

+=

From FIFO to FEFO

Characteristics PHT knowledge

Public Post-Harvest R&D capacity: not well developed

● Big companies: have own R&D, do not share

Academia: No drive towards industry: publication first!

● Poorly funded: not a rocket science, not sexy

Local institutes/uni’s do not fulfill PH business demands

● Focus on breeding/cropping/water/pests

Strenghten PHT knowledge base

Make PHT knowledge available

Use agrologistics forum or NoE

Case Egypt

Sustain this:

● Built up local PH-capacities in a regional PHIC’s

● Do PH-research & pilots with local products

● Improve skills: education/training/extension

● Showroom: novel technologies,

● Services: packing, processing, Q-inspection

Essential data example: vine tomatoes NL.

Temperature

Distribution

[days]8°C 10°C 12°C 18°C

9 ++ ++ + ---

11 ++ + + ---

14 + + --- / + ---

17 + --- / + --- ---

19--- /

+--- / + --- ---

PH Innovation Centers (PHIC) <-> FBR

FBR advice for the design (interior)

● Lessons already learned in NL.

● what works/what doesn’t

Hardware:

● Labs, analysers, scaled storage facilities

Software:

● Methods

● Effective research approach

● Procedures

How to make a PHIC effective?

Orgware: make the right research teams

● Expertise groups

Connect to agri-business (PPP)

● IP issues to be solved

● Practical pilots (chain approach)

Well defined multi-disciplinary research projects

● Aims, goals, methods, effects, deliverables

Kick start: make the PHIC mobile!!

A new PHIC = very long lead time before start

● Feasibility – organising - planning - fund raising –building

● Endurance

● Use in peak season only

Narrowing the time gap:

● Use a mobile FBR lab (ML)

● Designed by FBR

● Built by: ??

Strenghtening the knowledge base now

Tailor made interventions:

Train the trainer

On the spot, in company workshops

FBR’s post-harvest modules: 10-15

For regional workshops or in-company courses

- General & product-specific

- Ornamentals included

Conclusions

FBR post-harvest knowledge available for Egyptian initiatives

● Agro-logistic forum: member

● Pilots: ready to help

● Raising a PHIC

FBR PHT value chain approach:

● All inclusive

● Food processing

● Biorefinery

● Consumer preferences

● SCM

All this for the benefit of the consumer

and the agri-business

• Safe food

• High nutritional value

• Excellent quality

• Available

• Not wasted

• Year-round supply

• Tasty

• Sustainably produced