Maintaining banana quality and freshness across longer export routes remains critical for Indian exporters, and can make all the difference between rejection and market success, says Deepak Rajmohan, CEO of GreenPod Labs, an agri-biotech enterprise. "There are ways to ensure optimal shelf life and reduce spoilage by closely monitoring conditions inside the packaging, particularly regarding ripening and moisture during transit."
Rajmohan highlights the working of Freshpods, a patented active packaging solution designed to delay banana ripening. He explains, "It relies on plant-based volatiles that activate the fruit's internal immune system, which can delay ripening up to 50 to 60 days in cold supply chains and provide a 25 to 30 day shelf life extension even at ambient temperatures." While the recommended cold chain temperature is 13°C, this technology can also function under reasonable temperature fluctuations.
© GreenPod Labs
Moisture management is another crucial factor during export, mentions Rajmohan, as he points out, "Each banana box can collect up to 120 ml of excess water, which can lead to spoilage issues. DrySorb is a moisture absorber that helps to tackle this challenge and is typically used along with Freshpods. Together, they stabilize conditions inside the cartons and ensure the fruit arrives in market-ready condition." Rajmohan shares that both solutions are already in use by banana exporters, cumulatively handling 600 to 800 shipments of 20' FCL per month.
According to Rajmohan, the ability to maintain high quality across longer transport distances can help exporters to grow beyond traditional regional buyers. He adds that the response FreshPods and DrySorb has been encouraging: "Our Indian customers have successfully used both solutions to enter new export destinations such as Jordan and Syria while continuing supplies to established markets like Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan."
© GreenPod Labs
For farm-level grading and monitoring, GreenPod Labs is also working with around 30 users currently. "Growers and packers are trialing our digital app called GreenPod Labs Tech that quantifies banana quality parameters using AI and computer vision."
Looking ahead, Rajmohan anticipates steady growth for post-harvest technologies. "As demand for high-quality fruit rises, shelf-life extension tools will become essential. Moving forward, we are planning expansions into markets like Asia and Africa, where post-harvest losses remain high," he concludes.
For more information:
Deepak Rajmohan
GreenPod Labs
Tel: +91 98 40 069 712
Email: [email protected]
www.greenpodlabs.com
