Perishable fruits like strawberries and raspberries face limited postharvest longevity, often resulting in economic losses due to their short shelf life in retail environments. Researchers from South Dakota State University's Department of Dairy and Food Science are addressing this issue by developing biodegradable packaging materials derived from agricultural residues.
Srinivas Janaswamy, an associate professor at the department, along with graduate students Sandeep Paudel and Sumi Regmi, is working on creating plastic-like films from bio sources. These films aim to extend the shelf life of fruits and combat the plastic waste crisis, degrading in less than 60 days compared to traditional plastics' centuries-long persistence.
Janaswamy noted, "Plastic is a popular choice for packaging due to its portable, durable, and lightweight traits. However, its intrinsic ability to remain dormant for several centuries and the human inability to destabilize and destroy its structure results in the piling of perilous plastic debris."
Through studies, the team demonstrated that films made from alfalfa, soyhull, and corncob residues could extend the shelf life of strawberries and raspberries. In a raspberry experiment, soybean hull-derived films extended the shelf life by over six days compared to polystyrene films. For strawberries, alfalfa-derived films extended freshness by two additional days.
These films, described by Janaswamy as "breathable" filters, help control moisture and gas transfer, creating a modified atmosphere that preserves fruit freshness. This research could minimize economic losses for producers and extend the freshness of fruits for consumers, while also reducing environmental plastic waste.
Source: SDSU