In May 2026, Jordan Kruisselbrink signed up for FOOD*6190 and started a research course with Dr. Daniel Onwude. The project was to upgrade Dr Onwude Lab’s existing physics-based model and create an accessible application for predicting apple shelf life during refrigerated storage. Coming from a food microbiology background, Jordan began the project with no prior experience in mathematical modelling, app development, or coding. Working very closely with Dr. Onwude, he learned the model, how it worked, what the theory behind it was, and how it could be adapted for a practical apple-storage application. Over the course of 3 months, Jordan successfully adapted the model to the specific use case and built the Multiphysics application interface from scratch (a first of its kind in Canada to our best knowledge). The resulting tool allows users to input temperature data from the fridge where apples are stored and obtain predictions of quality changes and remaining shelf life. The app is easy to use and intuitive, allowing even non-expert users to estimate how long apples can maintain their quality during storage. They also performed a simple experiment to determine how accurate the predictions from the model are. They stored apples for a month in a household fridge and determined how much mass was lost over the course of that time, then compared it to the predicted mass loss from the model. The predictions closely matched the experimental measurements, achieving 89% accuracy. Jordan learned how to create an app, how to code an app to perform functions not prebuilt into development software and how to model physiological functions digitally, skills he will apply in the multifaceted food science domain moving forward. By stepping outside his comfort zone, Jordan gained valuable skills and demonstrated how food scientists can combine traditional food science with emerging computational tools to address practical challenges. The result is a promising digital tool that brings advanced food modelling closer to everyday use and demonstrates how digital technologies could help consumers and the food industry better predict food quality, manage storage, and ultimately reduce food waste.
Contact information: Jordan Kruisselbrink ( jkruisse@uoguelph.ca) (Phone: +1-519-823-1268 x57307)