Cherries require meticulous handling to preserve their commercial value. In response, Argentina's National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) has developed an electronic cherry. This device, embedded with sensors, captures data on movements and impacts during transit, aiming to reduce damage and minimize losses.
In 2024, Argentina exported 7,210 tons of cherries to various markets, including Europe and China, at an average of $4 per kilogram, as per the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers (CAPCI). The electronic cherry is designed to identify impact points, enabling producers to refine processes.
Andrés Moltoni from INTA's Agro-Electronics Laboratory stated, "The electronic cherry was developed to simulate the dimensions, weight, and surface hardness of real cherries." This ensures accurate data representation of conditions during packaging and transport.
Pitting, a surface damage issue during handling, reduces cherry value, with around 5% losses attributed to it. Moltoni suggests that this technology could halve these losses, potentially recovering 2.5% of exported cherries, equating to 180,000 kilograms or $720,000.
Liliana San Martino from INTA Los Antiguos noted that pitting losses in packaging can range from 10% to 40%, with damage sometimes appearing weeks post-impact. Minimizing damage at the source is crucial.
The electronic cherry, featuring a Bluetooth transmitter, lithium battery, and accelerometer, identifies critical damage points. San Martino highlighted, "With the implementation of this technology, we have already seen tangible improvements in packaging plants that tested it."
Producers in Argentina and Chile show interest in this technology. Although still a prototype, the latest version includes enhanced features for precise data capture. Moltoni remarked, "This technology provides concrete data that allows the sector to make informed decisions."
Source: Total News