Integrated sensors kit for investigation of perishable produce shelf-life extension

Abstract

This paper details the process of designing, testing and developing an integrated sensors kit for recording a range of environmental parameters within a newly developed transportation unit called FreshBox. It has been designed to extend product shelf life as well as other improvements on conventional food storage and transportation. The sensors kit is transported within the FreshBox container and monitors the ambient environmental features to which the produce is exposed. CO2, O2, temperature and humidity levels are all recorded locally on a memory card and uploaded to the cloud at a later stage via a smart phone app. The unit has been tested during transportation of fresh fruit and vegetables between Spain and Germany.