Advanced Technology for Extending Shelf Life of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables During Storage and Transportation

OUSD(R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Biotechnology OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative, safe, and scalable technologies to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables (FF&V) in military supply chains. These safe, effective, and practical solutions should reduce spoilage, enhance quality, and improve logistical efficiency. DESCRIPTION: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support Subsistence seeks research into storage, transportation, packaging, and coating technologies to address spoilage in military supply chains, where up to 30% of FF&V is lost during transit and storage. The focus is on technologies such as ethylene-absorbing materials, controlled-atmosphere packaging or transport mechanisms, edible coatings, and inhibitors that target climacteric produce (e.g., bananas, tomatoes, avocados). The goals are to decrease spoilage, reduce resupply frequency, and enhance food security/availability. Key focus areas include: Ethylene Absorption: Development of materials capable of effectively capturing or mitigating ethylene gas within storage and transportation units. Ripening Inhibition: Technologies or additives that slow metabolic processes in climacteric produce to increase shelf-life. Operational Compatibility: Safe and effective solutions compatible with existing refrigerated containers and subsistence supply chain processes. Cost-Effectiveness: Economic viability and scalability for widespread use across military and commercial supply chains. The desired outcome is to increase the freshness and usability of fruits and vegetables delivered to military dining facilities and forward operating bases, reducing dependency on frequent resupply. This research initiative invites technology companies to submit proposals and innovations that align with the outlined areas of interest. Respondents must be ITAR-certified to qualify for submission of a proposal and receive any subsequent data for this project. PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to develop and demonstrate ethylene mitigation technologies in controlled environments. Deliverables include: A comprehensive report on the technology's potential, including cost analysis, scalability, and integration with existing military logistics systems. Prototype materials or methods for FF&V shelf-life extension. Experimental data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the proposed solution in extending FF&V shelf life. PHASE II: Refine and optimize the Phase I technology for deployment in military supply chains. Activities include: Testing the technology in operational conditions, such as refrigerated containers used for transporting produce. Collaborating with DLA Troop Support to identify critical supply routes and storage facilities for pilot implementation. Producing a detailed concept of operations (CONOPs) and cost-benefit analysis. PHASE III: Dual Use (military/civilian) - Currently, no specific funding is associated with PHASE III. Progress documented from PHASE I and PHASE II may result in vendor's qualification as an approved source for future procurements for operational integration and use. The vendor will pursue the commercialization of the storage, transportation, packaging, or edible coating technology, targeting dual-use applications in military and civilian supply chains. Emphasis will be placed on partnerships with produce suppliers, logistics companies, and packaging manufacturers to scale the solution. Demonstrating compliance with regulatory standards for food safety and transportation will be critical to market adoption. REFERENCES: 1. USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Link 2. Defense Logistics Agency: DLA Troop Support Subsistence. Link 3. Nguyen L.P.L. et al. (2018), Effect of ethylene absorber on banana during storage. Acta Hortic. 1216, 55-58. KEYWORDS: Shelf Life, FF&V, Ethylene Absorption, Biotechnology