A project at Aarhus University aims to develop a method that can reduce wastage and increase the shelf life of fruit all the way from producer to consumer and can be used in both organic and conventional productions. Photo: AU

The use of pesticides to treat fruit is very common in fruit production, but a combination of hot water and UV light may be the way forward to a non-chemical treatment. The method can lead to less waste and improve the shelf life of fruit without using pesticides.

2012.02.08

Treating fruit with hot water and UV light instead of pesticides is the essence of a new project at Aarhus University. The project aims to develop a method that can reduce wastage and increase the shelf life of fruit all the way from producer to consumer and can be used in both organic and conventional productions.

The project is based on results from earlier and ongoing projects in which hot water treatment has been used in different contexts. The results are used to further develop methodologies, where hot water treatment will be combined with UV light.

- The project differs from other projects by expanding the methods through a combination of hot water treatment with bicarbonate and UV illumination before or after hot water treatment. Recent studies have revealed that the combination of methods has a synergistic effect compared to using the methods separately, says senior scientist Lillie Andersen.

Hot water and UV light in perfect harmony
The first part of the project will look at the effects of hot water treatment with and without, respectively, bicarbonate and UV light treatment on the shelf life and quality of apples and cantaloupe melon. Subsequently the best and most appropriate hot water method and UV light method will be developed.

- Part of the postharvest process often entails washing the fruit in temperate water, but this has involved immersing large boxes (1 m³) of apples in hot water, which is a very energy-consuming and complicated operation. Further development of the hot water method is therefore essential if it is to have a commercial rationale, says Lillie Andersen.

A model will finally be constructed based on the selected methods for hot water treatment and UV treatment. The model will be developed so that it can be used in a process line at the sorting stage.


Less waste means better economy
The new method will have a positive effect on fruit production. When using the method, producers will be able to reduce their waste by 20-50 percent, depending on which fruit they grow, and this will bring economic benefits.

- In Denmark alone, reducing the wastage in apple production with this method  is worth up to €27 million per year if all apples are treated, says Lillie Andersen.

She predicts that there will be considerable interest in the model in Europe but also in some countries outside Europe, since the interest in non-chemical treatment and organic fruit production has been steadily rising throughout the Western world.

The three-year project is supported by 3.6 million DKK from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Green Development and Demonstration Programme (GUDP). It is a collaboration between Aarhus University, Harndrup Skov Frugtplantage, SAF a.m.b.a, Anderup El, M-tek smede og maskinfabrik and Danfrugt.

Further information: Senior scientist Lillie Andersen, Department of Food Science, telephone: +45 8715 8323, email: lillie.andersen@agrsci.dk

Text: Anne Møller Christensen