Chile: A new technology will be developed to preserve the useful life of strawberries

Published May 28, 2024

Tridge summary

A project in San Pedro, Chile, is set to use a new technology developed with yeast strains to extend the shelf life of strawberries from two to seven days, helping farmers reduce losses and increase economic efficiency. The technology involves using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast that can produce hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which preserves fruit quality and has antimicrobial properties. The project is funded by Fondef and involves collaboration with the University of Santiago, which has a pool of 195 strains of native yeasts capable of producing H₂S. AgroQ-Tral, a potential licensee of the technology, will focus on its commercialization. The technology will use a device containing encapsulated and immobilized yeasts that produce and release H₂S at optimal levels for strawberry conservation.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Based on a new technology that will be developed with yeast strains, it is intended to help farmers in San Pedro, a commune in central Chile, so that they can guarantee the quality of the fruit for longer, which will have an impact positive economic by reducing losses of products not marketed in the distribution chain, reported INIA La Cruz. "For us, the preservation of strawberries is a continuous struggle, since the post-harvest period of a quality fruit barely reaches two days. With this initiative we aspire to prolong the period up to seven days," said Clara Núñez, field professional. from Agro Frutillas San Pedro, a company that is involved in this project. Agro Frutillas San Pedro brings together about 45 active small and large farmers from various sectors of the town of San Pedro, consolidating itself as one of the main towns in the production of this fruit in Chile. In addition, it holds the seal of origin that certifies the origin of the strawberries grown in this ...

Source: MXfruit