Reducing food waste using novel nanoengineered packaging that cools without electricity

The overall goal of this project is the development and initial prototypingof eco-efficient packaging to extend shelf-life of fresh agricultural produce and reduce postharvest losses by cooling right from harvest without the use of external energy. Included in this development goals are key pillars of the related manufacturing technology needed to make the end product affordable.The objectives for the project are as follows.Materials selection and design to achieve remittance control for key functional layers of the packaging pod.Materials selection and process development for multilayer integration.Develop functional prototype instrumented pod to demonstrate cooling below ambient in daylight in different target climate conditions.Demonstrate proof of concept shelf life extension for highly perishable produce (e.g. lettuce, strawberry, or other).