"The whole space of ethylene management is quite new and hasn't had as much work done on it as some of the other postharvest technologies," says Lianne Jones, general manager of RYPEN in South Africa. "It's a new space."
She explains that RYPEN, developed by It's Fresh in the United Kingdom, is a clean and residue-free ethylene removal solution that integrates easily into the supply chain. "It's not a chemical, and it doesn't alter the natural ripening of fruit. Instead, it physically removes ethylene from the environment, helping slow ripening and preserve quality."
The technology works by incorporating ethylene-binding material into packaging formats such as liners, pads (right), and inserts. These selectively absorb ethylene molecules and allow produce to maintain its eating quality and shelf life, especially when facing unpredictable transit conditions.
"In South Africa, we are working with twenty companies, from small to large, using our technology. We support our customers by assessing their arrivals and looking at the impact that ethylene management has had on quality improvement."
She adds that they have a team of agronomists and data scientists to help customers put numbers to the outcomes. "When fruit arrives in better condition, it means fewer repacks, fewer claims, and stronger sales. It is an insurance policy: you don't know for how long your containers could be delayed or stuck somewhere."
Ethylene molecules are selectively captured through the zeolite structure developed by It's Fresh
Inaugural season on grapes
This year, RYPEN introduced grape case liners to South African grape exporters. Initially, the industry was sceptical, she says, countering that grapes are not climacteric and therefore not impacted by ethylene.
"At many of our first meetings, people said to us You don't need this for grapes," she remembers, but they knew their case was strong. "We've tested ethylene readings of grapes here in South Africa with ExperiCo and with IRTA in Spain, which confirmed that grape rachis continues releasing ethylene even at 0°C. As temperatures rise to 25°C, ethylene production increases sharply, accelerating rachis dehydration and stem browning."
The RYPEN case liner: after initial scepticism, it has been shown that grapes do exude ethylene, which hastens ripening
Over the 2024/25 season, RYPEN liners were used on over 5,500 tonnes of grapes across 32 commercial shipments from South Africa, Peru, and Chile. Across white, red, and black varieties, exporters observed: a 25% improvement in rachis score and an up to eight times higher incidence of green stems. They witnessed 65% fewer defects on arrival as well as less weight loss during long transits.
"If you're selling to China with green stems, or you're selling to a top-tier retailer programme, and your grapes have excellent quality, there's a clear return on investment through using RYPEN."
South African plum trial with Provar
A recent Provar-led trial with Laetitia plums tested RYPEN's impact under a rigorous Cold Sterilisation protocol. The study simulated 40 days of low-temperature storage followed by 14 days at 10°C, mirroring USA-bound export conditions.
A trial comparing the RYPEN case liner (right) with industry-standard liners (left) on Laetitia plums following a 40-day cold temperature sterilisation protocol, with a further 14 days at retail temperature (10°C).
By day 54, the RYPEN-protected fruit showed zero rot or mould, 11% higher fruit firmness, almost three times less gel breakdown, while internal browning was halved. An 8% reduction in shrivel was noticeable on the plums.
"The fruit was visibly less developed, with a slower ripening profile and much better internal condition. That's a major win in stone fruit when you're shipping with delayed routes."
Reducing shrivel on berries
Next on their radar for the forthcoming season is blueberries. "We've worked with the University of Chile and ExperiCo here in South Africa. Our research has shown an impact on shrivel and firmness on blueberries."
Jones adds that globally, RYPEN also works on cherries, being trialled on Chilean exports to China. "We see an overall effect on firmness, shrivelling, and weight, and internal browning of a cherry. We also have an impact on managing the flowering on tender stem broccoli."
For more information:
Lianne Jones
It's Fresh South Africa
Tel: +27 82 496 9678
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rypen.io