Introducing AgroFresh - Postharvest Information Network

March 13th & 14th, 2001, Wenatchee, WA
WASHINGTON TREE FRUIT POSTHARVEST CONFERENCE
INTRODUCING AGROFRESH

Bruce Bates
AgroFresh, Inc.
[email protected]
AgroFresh Inc., a Rohm and Haas Company, was formed in December 1999 to develop the
technology known in the research community as 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene). The product
will be commercialized for the apple market under the brand name AgroFresh™. It’s a
promising breakthrough in fruit storage technology that preserves the fresh-picked apple
crunchiness, taste and juice content. Equally important is that AgroFresh™ will help the apple
industry meet retail and consumer demand for higher quality apples.
While AgroFresh, Inc. was formed a little over a year ago, this discovery was made many years
before in a lab at North Carolina State University. University researchers looking for a way to
inhibit the natural production of ethylene and make fruit less susceptible to external ethylene
sources discovered the secret to AgroFresh™ technology. As described by Dr. Dana Faubion of
Washington State University:
An apple that smells ethylene is stimulated to undergo the changes associated with
ripening. With this compound present, the fruit cannot detect ethylene. This severely
slows changes associated with ripening: fruit softening, respiration, ethylene production,
and the loss of acidity.
In 1990’s, the researchers perfected their development and were seeking commercial
applications. They sold it to a company named Floralife Inc. for use in the floral market and for
its later development with fruits and vegetables. In the floral market it is used to extend flower
life, as well as being a good substitute for silver thiosulfate (STS), the current postharvest
standard in the floral market, which is under environmental scrutiny. Floralife’s expertise,
however, did not extend to the fruit and vegetable market. Rohm and Haas Company recognized
an opportunity to purchase a product with a very favorable safety profile, and formed its
subsidiary, AgroFresh, Inc. to develop 1-MCP for food production. In 1999, Floralife sold the
rights to this technology to Rohm and Haas for development in fruits and vegetables.
2001 PROCEEDINGS, Introducing AgroFresh™
WSU-TFREC POSTHARVEST INFORMATION NETWORK
AgroFresh™ Maintains Firmness
Pink Lady
Granny Smith
Red Delicious
Gala
Fuji
Jonagold
20
18
Firmness (Lbs)
Since then, AgroFresh Inc. has spent
considerable effort in the apple industry
with research trials being conducted
worldwide. The technology has been
studied by fruit and vegetable experts for
about three years and has demonstrated
its effectiveness in maintaining fruit
quality.
For apples that means
controlling scald, maintaining firmness,
and preserving the sugar-acid balance.
AgroFresh will help the U.S. apple
industry meet retail and consumer
demand for higher quality apples, as
16
14
12
10
RA
RA + MCP
CA
Data from semi-commercial trial at Stemilt Growers
AgroFresh™ applied after harvest at 900 ppb for 24 hr.
Ratings taken after 9 months storage at 0-3° C + 6 days at 20° C
page 1 of 2
http://postharvest.tfrec.wsu.edu/proc/PC2001D.pdf
March 13th & 14th, 2001, Wenatchee, WA
WASHINGTON TREE FRUIT POSTHARVEST CONFERENCE
well as to deliver consistent quality to consumers year-round. This product easily complements
the current systems of apple storage (controlled atmosphere (CA) and regular air (RA) storage).
The company is expecting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for apples
later this year. The product has a very favorable safety profile and qualifies for expedited EPA
registration due to its low-use rate, non-toxic mode of action and structure similar to naturally
occurring ethylene. When AgroFresh™ is ready for a full commercial launch; it will be
packaged in a self-contained, one-step, single use delivery system. The user will simply add
water to dissolve the AgroFresh™ powder, and it quickly and evenly disperses in the storage
room. The company has conducted both large-scale and small-scale efficacy trials with apples.
The large-scale trial is underway in a 1,250-bin room of Red Delicious apples. After three and a
half months, the treatment is working exactly as expected, holding the apples at much higher
levels than control with regard to firmness and acidity.
2000/2001 Commercial Trial Firmness after 3.5 Months Storage
0.25
18
% Titratable Acidity
A
B
C
D
14
12
10
RA-MCP
CA
RA
Firmness as an indicator of quality is a
given, and AgroFresh has repeatedly
been shown to preserve this quality. Data
also shows that the technology also
preserves other indicators of good apple
flavor - like higher levels of titratable
acidity. We’re also seeing better aroma
preservation for apples stored long term,
and we are gathering more data for
shorter-term storage scenarios. Our intent
is that AgroFresh™ will help the apple
industry deliver “fresh-picked” quality to
the marketplace year-round.
2001 PROCEEDINGS, Introducing AgroFresh™
WSU-TFREC POSTHARVEST INFORMATION NETWORK
A
B
C
D
0.23
0.21
0.19
0.17
0.15
CA-MCP
CA-MCP
RA-MCP
CA
RA
Preserving Acidity = Higher Quality
0.50
0.45
Titratable Acidity
8
Grower
Grower
16
Firmness (lbs)
AgroFresh™ Commercial Trial –
Titratable Acidity after 3.5 Months
Storage
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
AgroFresh™
Control
0.10
0.05
0.00
2 months
4 months
6 months
page 2 of 2
http://postharvest.tfrec.wsu.edu/proc/PC2001D.pdf