Peruvians create natural coating to preserve Hass avocado and win prize in Korea

A team of researchers from the Universidad San Ignacio del Loyola (USIL) in Peru has developed a non-toxic coating made from natural products, including mandarin essential oil, to preserve the quality of Hass avocados and prevent fungus growth during the post-harvest stage. The coating, which contains other natural ingredients like chitosan and gelatin, is applied after harvest and provides a more effective way to maintain avocado quality without using harmful chemicals. The team's invention won a Semi Grand Prize at the Korean Women's Inventions International Exhibition (KIWIE). This is the third year in a row that USIL has been recognized at KIWIE, with a total of five medals in 2024. The young inventor on the team encourages more women to engage in research to drive recognition, economic, and social benefits.

A team of Peruvian researchers has developed a non-toxic coating, that is, a liquid made from natural products such as mandarin essential oil, to preserve the quality of the Hass avocado and prevent the growth of the fungus in the post-harvest of this fruit. For the project "Obtaining method and formula for microbiological control and weight loss control for Hass Avocado through the use of biopolymers and essential oil", the team of researchers from the Universidad San Ignacio del Loyola (USIL) obtained one of the three Semi Grand Prize awarded at the Korean Women's Inventions International Exhibition (KIWIE), held from June 20 to 22, 2024. The main researcher Luis Olivera explains to the Andina Agency that this Peruvian invention was born from a problem that exists in the agribusiness sector and that affects our star fruit: the Hass avocado Mainly, during the post-harvest stage, the avocado is attacked by a fungus, which begins to deteriorate this fruit, generating losses for ...