An Improved Release System for Ethylene Inhibitors to Increase the Shelf Life of Post-Harvest Agricultural Products

Nearly 50% of produce is wasted throughout the agricultural supply chain. A significant fraction of this loss is through produce senescence, deterioration with age. In almost all plants, senescence is accelerated by ethylene gas, a hormone that plants produce as they age or are damaged. For decades, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) gas has been used to inhibit ethylene action in plants and produce industrially. Despite the near-universality of ethylene in plant senescence, 1-MCP is used only in select crops and only at the earliest points in the supply chain. Use of 1-MCP is limited by current application techniques, which depend on short-term treatments. This project aims to extend 1-MCP use to a wide range of species and to later points in the supply chain by developing a series of materials to provide controlled release of 1-MCP slowly over time. This project studies the feasibility of using patented composite materials to provide controlled release of 1-MCP. We will target ethylene-sensitive agricultural products that represent significant distribution losses based on our market research. We will measure 1-MCP release from our materials using established gas chromatographic methods, quantify produce shelf-life enhancement using agriscientific methodologies, and test our product in real-world conditions with the aid of partner produce distributors.