Details of the project EPI

Development and implementation of product and process innovations, technologically and organizationally related to the processing as well as marketing of fruit for the orchard farms. The aim of the o

14-03-2023 do 31-12-2024

2 978 969,09

EFRROW; national public funds

http://zdrowejablko.lodr.konskowola.pl/

The aim of the operation is to develop and implement a technological innovation in the area of agricultural product quality management and introduction safe agricultural products for sale. Within the planned operation, a modern measurement system will be developed and implemented firmness of the fruit, wrinkling of the skin, dry weight, contents of vitamin C, carbohydrates, calcium, silicon, shelf life of fruits stored under chain conditions logistics (simulation of a logistics chain with temperature changes humidity and shocks) with an element of fruit development waste in the form of drying apples for crisps. The above results in a reduction waste and increasing farm profitability reducing losses after harvest season and food waste. System created in the prototype will enable quick and effective measurement in agricultural products in production site.

The operation will be carried out in four stages. It is to be launched in March 14, 2023 and finished by December 31, 2024. During the first stage, activities are to be planned, i.e.: - purchase of devices for prototype construction, - reagents, - tools for laboratory tests, - development of specifications for the construction of the prototype, - preparation of the technology documentation. In the second stage, are to be carried out laboratory analyzes related to the impact of individually selected parameters in the storage quality of products. Physical parameters are to be taken into account in laboratory analyses, physicochemical and chemical properties of apples in the context of commercial quality loss. The indicated transformations will be assessed from the point of view intensity at a certain time after the end of the refrigeration process. For this purpose, storage and laboratory tests will be conducted: - selection of quality parameters for fruit - selection of chemical parameters that accompany fruit aging and the occurrence of putrefactive processes - prototype development - cost estimation - construction works in an orchard farm, consisting in works renovation and construction. The following activities are planned in the third stage: - investment purchases on the farm - approval of the prototype design of the machine, acquisition of materials for construction, prototype construction - conducting research related to the analysis of the near spectrum infrared passing through the fruit and chemical analyses parameters that accompany the deterioration of fruit quality (fruit selection before the storage process, after the storage process and after simulated logistics process) - creation of a neural network to establish correlations for the above parameters The following activities are planned in the fourth stage: - continuous improvement of the neural network based on the results of the analyses conducted as part of the comp

One of the directions that currently seems to be strategic is the development of a fruit sorting plant. Professional sorting plants allow us to reject fruits that are slightly damaged, both mechanically and caused by diseases and pests. Such sorting facilities are particularly important for products sold to long supply chains markets. The globalization of food product markets entails the extension of supply chains. In the case of the fresh fruit market, this is problematic due to the limited shelf life of the fruit. The data that can be found in the scientific and industry literature clearly indicate that a critical parameter related to the quality of products in long supply chains is insufficient fruit durability. One of the reasons for this limited durability is the inadequate level of ripeness of the fruit during harvesting, mechanical damage to the fruit and damage to the fruit caused by pests. Harvesting too ripe fruit has its consequences in the area of the product quality after

The strategic goal of the developed sorting plant will be the possibility of creating a batch of fruit that will not lose its quality in the logistics process and can be delivered to the final consumer in unchanged form. Fruits that will have less potential strength in the logistics chain will be directed to sale in within short logistics chains, or will be reclassified as goals of the agri-food industry. Achieving this goal will enable significantly reduction of carbon footprint in fresh fruit. The researchers indicate that the "spoilage" of fruit in supply chain is one of the most important losses and sources of emissions greenhouse gas emissions for fresh market fruit. Limiting greenhouse gas emissions concerns not only the loss of the product, but also energy consumption for storage, transport and disposal of rotten fruits. A significant emission of greenhouse gases accompanies itself primary production, therefore each unused (wasted) fruit is a burden on the whole sector. Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated per 1 kg of fruit delivered to the final consumer.

The innovation concerns the stage of sorting and preparing the raw fruits for sale to the market and preparation of raw fruits for drying process. The technological innovation concerns the range of parameters selected to assess the quality of apples intended for the dessert market as well as for drying. Current technological solutions focus on detecting fruit damage and rotting sources in the qualification process for sale. The evaluated solution uses such parameters such as fruit firmness, degree of skin wrinkling, dry content weight, vitamin C content, sugar content, calcium content, silicon content, shelf life of fruits stored under logistic chain conditions. All these parameters affect the value of the raw material depending on its use direction. Use of infrared spectrometry in the assessment of fruit quality, taking into account the above mentioned parameters is feasible from the point of view of this technology, however not used yet. Equipping the technology with a module managing the operation of the sorting plant based on the library of improved spectra by a functional neural network is the most important element innovation, that will lead to the production of a product with repeatable parameters. Progressively improved technology.

food quality / food processing and nutrition