Tech enthusiast Daniel Oseni has invented a cooling system called PeriPES. It is designed to successfully preserve and store tomatoes for up to 3 to 4 months. PeriPES works by reducing the room temperature of the tomatoes to less than 15°C at 90 percent humidity to stop the production of ethylene, the major chemical component that causes ripening and spoilage in all agricultural products.
Oseni: “Our technological input is harnessing the power of nature to preserve. This science is known as evaporative cooling. It is a circular movement of moist air from a cooler region to a hotter region by passing through a damp sand medium. It is a very viable and stable means of preservation because it creates a conducive humidity for the tomatoes, which helps to retain the nutritional value.”
When asked how the Savvy Prize will help his project become successful, he said, “With our passion and resilience, we will replicate our solution to eight other Nigerian states that are major producers of tomatoes.
Source: businesspost.ng