Can gas signals forecast when fresh produce will spoil?
SciFruVeg is testing whether CO₂ and ethylene-related gas signatures in cold storage can reliably forecast remaining shelf-life — before decay is visible. We are seeking institutional validation partners and pilot sites to find out.
The research question
Testing a hypothesis, not selling a product.
SciFruVeg is a structured research programme, not a commercial launch. We are investigating whether the gas-exchange signatures produced during fruit senescence — specifically CO₂ and ethylene-related volatile organic compounds — carry enough predictive signal to forecast remaining shelf-life with operational accuracy. The four produce types under investigation are apples, avocados, berries, and bananas. These were selected for their commercial significance, their distinct senescence profiles, and the availability of food-science literature on their gas-exchange behaviour.
Apples
Well-documented ethylene-driven ripening; strong baseline literature
Avocados
Climacteric ripening with rapid senescence window; high commercial loss rates
Berries
Non-climacteric; CO₂ accumulation as primary senescence signal
Bananas
Highly predictable ethylene burst; strong candidate for model training
Research approach
Sense. Model. Validate.
Gas sensing in storage
Low-cost CO₂ and ethylene-related VOC sensors are placed inside storage chambers. They monitor the gas-exchange signature of ripening continuously — capturing the biochemical process of senescence as it unfolds.
Shelf-life modelling
Sensor data feeds a machine-learning model grounded in food-science literature on gas-exchange and senescence. The model attempts to forecast remaining shelf-life from the gas signature alone — without physical inspection.
Institutional validation
Forecast accuracy is assessed against ground-truth observations at partner sites. Validation partners provide the operational context, storage conditions, and produce data needed to test whether the model generalises beyond controlled conditions.
Partnership opportunities
We are actively seeking two types of partner.
SciFruVeg is at the stage where the research hypothesis needs to be tested in real operational environments. We cannot do that without partners who bring institutional credibility, produce expertise, and access to storage facilities. Data ownership terms will be discussed and agreed with each partner individually before any data collection begins.
Institutional validation partners
Food Innovation Centres, university food-science departments, and applied research institutes with expertise in post-harvest biology, produce quality, or supply-chain systems. We are seeking partners who can co-design the validation methodology, review model outputs, and provide scientific credibility to the programme's findings.
Examples: Food Innovation Centres, post-harvest research groups, agri-food science faculties
Commercial pilot partners
Cold-chain storage operators, wholesalers, and packers willing to host sensor installations and provide operational produce data during the pilot phase. A commercial pilot prospect is already in progress through Konero YellowBox. We are seeking additional sites to broaden the dataset and test model performance across different storage conditions.
Examples: Cold-chain operators, fresh produce wholesalers, packing houses
Data ownership: Data ownership terms will be discussed and agreed with each partner before any data collection begins. No data will be collected or shared without a signed agreement.
Commercial pilot pathway
Konero YellowBox: our first commercial pilot prospect.
SciFruVeg is developed under the Konero Group. A commercial pilot prospect is already in progress through Konero YellowBox — Konero's applied innovation and commercialisation vehicle. This provides a structured pathway from research validation to operational deployment, without requiring the research programme to carry commercial risk during the validation phase.
What we are asking for
A conversation, not a commitment.
- Access to storage facilities for sensor installation during the pilot phase
- Produce samples or operational lots across the four target types
- Subject-matter expertise in post-harvest biology or supply-chain operations
- Willingness to co-design validation methodology and review findings
- Openness to discussing data ownership and partnership terms
We will respond within five working days. No commitment is required at this stage.
A Konero Group research programme
SciFruVeg Technologies is developed under the Konero Group — a venture and technology group focused on applied intelligence for food, agriculture, and supply-chain systems. Commercial development is supported through Konero YellowBox.