Farmer’s Weekly – 02 August 2019

ON THE MARKET FLOOR

Recently, I watched a BBC

documentary about the latest

scientific developments in

post-harvest technology. The

presenter explained that this

included all handling, storage

and ripening of fresh

produce from harvesting

to final consumption.

AGEING FRUIT

In the fresh produce business,

the term used for the process of

biological ageing is ‘senescence’.

As the presenter pointed out, loss

of fresh produce after harvesting

can reach up to 50%, depending

on where you are in the world.

Some developed countries, with

their sophisticated handling and

storage systems, can keep this

loss as low as 1% or 2%. In less

developed countries, the figure

shoots up to 30% or higher.

LONGEVITY GENES

The documentary showed

scientists experimenting

with gene technology in an

effort to increase the shelf life

of fruit. After identifying a

particular gene that provides

greater longevity in one fruit,

the researchers transferred

it to a fruit that does not

have a long shelf life.

Anybody who has worked

with bananas knows that they

are a challenge when it comes to

handling, ripening and storage.

The scientists hope that

planting a ‘longevity gene’ into

bananas will give them improved

shelf life. Hopefully, this will then

translate into improved sales.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT

High-tech research is crucial

to ongoing improvements in

Science vs handling

MICHAEL

CORDES

agriculture, of course, but

many people involved in the

handling of fresh produce

need to go back to the basics,

and get them right!

In short, employees need

training and motivation to

learn about the crucial role of

correct post-harvest handling.

You can introduce all the latest

technology you want, but it

won’t help much if the fruit

is handled incompetently.

The natural process of

senescence is irreversible. You

can slow it or even alter it, but

you cannot stop it. I wish the

scientists well, but at the same

time we need to ensure correct

handling at every stage of the

post-harvest process to prolong

the shelf life of fresh produce.

• Michael Cordes is an agricultural
  journalist, consultant, trainer
  and former farmer. Email him
  at [email protected].
  Subject line: Market floor.
  ▪

FW

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