Scientists at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) are working on a research project to enhance the shelf life of fruits by using an edible coating, Prof Masood Sadiq Butt said on Friday.
He was briefing food scientists at the National Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFSAT) about the project.
Prof Butt, who is heading the research team at NIFSAT, said the project would help fruit farmers increase their earnings by enabling them to cut the waste during transportation of fruits from farm to market.
He said coatings were being developed from chitosan, whey protein, starch, alginate and soy protein.
He said the UAF scientists were currently applying these coatings to fruits like apple, mango, apricot and strawberry.
Prof Butt said fruits could either be dipped into the coating material or sprayed with it.
“The coating prevents weight loss of fruits from evaporation of water from the pulp.
It also protects these fruits from harmful substances in the atmosphere,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune
