Gas Monitoring Issues Faced in Cereal Storage

With an increasing global population, climate change and ocean acidification creating problems for crops and fish stocks, the ability to guarantee food supplies has never been more vital. For many countries, food security can be a considerable challenge. One of the key areas of food security is the storage and preservation of food stocks.

Cereals, in particular, are one of the main sources of calories across the global population. Maize, rice and wheat, represent upwards of 30% of calories consumed for more than 4.5 billion people. Developing countries are the most heavily reliant upon these types of crops.

Unfortunately, these crops can be vulnerable to storage issues and can fall victim to insects, microorganisms, humidity resulting in declining crops and wastage. Estimates indicate that in the developing world these factors account for approximately $500million to $1 billion of maize each year.

As a consequence, for economic reasons and human well being, improvements to cereal storage methods are essential to minimize loss. Previous methods of tackling such food storage included the use of fumigants or gaseous pesticides. However, in more recent times, the employment of modified atmospheric conditions has been a more popular method. This provides the same level of crop protection but at the same time, lowering the risks for health and safety.

In this recent article, Edinburgh Sensors explores modified atmospheric conditions and looks at the use of fast-acting online sensors with high sensitivity which are necessary to keep wastage at a minimum. The sensors ensure that atmospheric conditions are maintained within preferred ranges and that heightened levels of carbon dioxide production, indicating spoilage, are detected early.

Click here to read the full article online at Edinburgh Sensors.