The team of researchers of the Faculty of Science, Thammasat University came up with a new innovation in preserving agricultural productions after cultivation.

Wednesday 03 October 2018

       The team of researchers of the Faculty of Science, Thammasat University came up with a new innovation in preserving agricultural productions after cultivation. Drawing on science, food preservation technology, and raw materials locally available in Thailand such as cumin, the team has introduced ‘Film to fly’ - the technique of edible coating which helps to prolong the quality of freshness of banana after flowering without leaving chemical residuals. Moreover, the technique can eliminate banana spoilage with the rate of 95%.     

             Asst. Prof. Dusit Athinuwat, the lecturer of the department of agricultural technology, the Faculty of Science, explained that this innovation is built on two crucial components; the extract of cumin which helps to minimize banana spoilage and cellulose of common water hyacinth which acts as a film preventing the extract of cumin from decomposition. These components are then liquefied and the liquid is applied on raw bananas. This further prevents the emission of Ethylene which stimulates the ripening of another banana. By doing this, the freshness of banana will last for two months. This technique can also be used with various kinds of exported fruits such as papaya and barracuda mango. Additionally, the research has won the gold medal from the 46^th International Exhibition of Innovations of Geneva, Switzerland.