SBIR-STTR Award

Perishable foods are susceptible to spoilage through oxidation bacterial or mold growth and bruising/cutting. Approximately 25-30% of global fruits and vegetables (F&V) are lost in postharvest supply chain because of poor safety conduct. The industry is quickly adapting to implement technologies that improve quality by retaining nutrition inhibit microbial growth and slow enzymatic ripening thereby extending shelf-life to supply food to the growing population through modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) solutions. Oceanit's novel MOF MAP film packaging designs DileX and Accel-X address the USDA's call for products and technologies that ensure the safety of food and enhance nutritional quality from harvest to table. DileX utilizes metal organic framework (MOF) technology to delay the ripening of F&V by either adsorbing generated ethylene or releasing an inhibitor i.e. cyclopropenes that block receptors. This packaging solution slows ripening to extend shelf-life. On the other hand Accel-X is an innovate MOF packaging solution used to accelerate the ripening of ready-to-eat F&V at retail. Oceanit's MOF MAP technologies prevent post-harvest losses in foods minimizing food waste associated with quick ripening and contamination from pathogens. Oceanit's will partner with Washington State University Food Engineering to model and down- select the best MOF systems that preferentially adsorb/desorb ethylene and inhibitors to control ripening in F&V. MOF systems will be encapsulated to retain active gases and will be incorporated into film structures designed to control atmosphere in packaging. Diffusion of active ingredients will be validated in experimental permeation studies.