The project "Light-On Shelf-Life" is a project funded by the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The aim is the study of crops shelf-life (including leafy, fruiting and aromatic crops) through the use of LED light treatments.
Nowadays, about one third of global food production is wasted, particularly in the fruit and vegetable sector. According to recent studies, artificial light has the potential to preserve or even improve the nutritional properties of several horticultural species and to prevent the development of infections caused by potential pathogens, thus contributing to the safety and nutritional value of products, as well as their shelf life. In particular, LED light represents a fundamental tool to provide specific wavelengths avoiding excessive heat release from lamps.
The light treatments (which can be characterized by different light intensities, spectral composition and/or different treatment times) will be tested in the experimental system, represented by an isothermal chamber with 27 experimental compartments with temperature control.
