Low-cost and ecofriendly active coating materials for peaches and nectarines preservation

Lead Applicant: Manjusri Misra

Research Priority: Competitive Production Systems Projects

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2022/2023

Research Centre: NA

Research Summary: Consumers want peaches and nectarines with pleasant sensory attributes (i.e., appearance, taste, texture) and as good sources of nutritional and functional compounds. However, in cold storage, peaches and nectarines only have a shelf life of 10-12 days. There are key drawbacks to cold storage and synthetic antimicrobial compounds used to preserve fruit after harvest. Cold storage has high equipment costs, energy consumption and chilling injuries. Synthetic antimicrobial compounds may cause toxicity, the appearance of resistant strains, and adverse effects on human health and the environment. The present study aims to develop low-cost and eco-friendly coating materials that can increase peaches and nectarines' shelf life, leading to increased farm income and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.