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Estimating the quality losses that a perishable product may suffer during its storage and transportation is the achievement of the real-time monitoring system that has been patented by UPCT researchers and is currently in operation.The researchers conducted several pilot plant trials under various conditions, using lettuce as a model, to determine its quality during storage.

The system, developed as a sensor-based tool, has been tested during several land transport trips through Europe and validated in climatic chambers of the Institute of Plant Biotechnology of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT).The patent is one of the results of a doctoral research to know the quality of the agricultural product in real time and thus optimize its consumption, redirecting it, if necessary, to markets with more turnover and anticipating possible food waste.The thesis with which María Teresa Martínez Zafra has obtained a doctorate at the UPCT is focused on the analysis of the behavior of fruit and vegetable products in the face of non-recommended conditions of conservation and refrigerated transport and on the development of intelligent monitoring systems of the main variables that affect your business life.The doctoral research, with a marked transversal and interdisciplinary nature, has been directed by Roque Torres Sánchez, from the Department of Automation, Electrical Engineering and Electronic Technology, and co-directed by Francisco Artés Hernández, from the Department of Agronomic Engineering.“Controlling the main environmental factors that influence the quality of perishable products is one of the main challenges for the food industry.

Temperature is the main factor that affects quality, but other factors such as relative humidity and concentrations of various gases (C2H4, O2 and CO2) also play an important role in maintaining the post-harvest quality of horticultural products ”, points out Francisco Arts.

"For this reason, the monitoring of these environmental factors is a key procedure to ensure quality throughout the useful life and evaluate losses", adds the agronomist."This system can be used at all stages of the cold chain thanks to its wireless communication architecture, registering variables at multiple points of the load," says Roque Torres.Various companies in the Region have collaborated in the development of this thesis, such as Widhoc Smart Solutions, Fruca Marketing, Transportes Directos del Segura and Mesa Trans Transportes.

Researchers have participated in European calls to develop the lines of work that this thesis opens through new projects.

In addition to scientific production and dissemination and technology transfer, this research was recognized with the 'Call to Solve Challenges' award from the UPCT in 2018.

Source: UPCT