The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa, and Hamburg Süd have joined forces to tackle the issue of sulphur-free grape transportation, proof of how synergies can be meaningfully exploited.
They jointly launched a co-operative effort endeavour aimed at determining whether controlled-atmosphere (CA) containers, manufactured by Cargofresh Technologies, could be an alternative to sulphur dioxide (S02) pads.
Hamburg Süd provided one of its CA containers for the experiment. The conditions were set at +0.5 °C, 97 per cent relative humidity, three per cent oxygen and no carbon dioxide, and the container packed with 20 pallets of grape boxes. Sixteen of them were empty (dummy cargo) while four pallets held boxes filled with two grape varieties - Superior Seedless and Benitaka. The container’s contents underwent two treatments: packing containing SO2 generator pads and packing without.
The container was then transported to Hamburg Süd’s reefer depot in the industrial district of Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil, where it stayed in operation for 30 days to simulate a long-distance shipment. At the end of this period, the container was opened and the unloaded grapes placed in an environment at 20-22°C and 50-60 per cent humidity to reproduce shelf-life conditions during commercialisation.
The results from the simulation showed that both varieties of grape performed very well in the programmed conditions within the container. Dr Joston Simão de Assis who oversaw the project at Embrapa Semi-árido, says: “The grapes had a good appearance and displayed desirable physical-chemical characteristics, even without the use of the SO2 pads, indicating that this treatment can be dispensed with when CA container transport is used.”
The results also showed that the grapes’ moisture loss during storage in the CA container was lower in the grapes without SO2. This leads to the conclusion that, due to the quality-retention features of the CA technology, the stems of the grapes remain much firmer and greener when shipped without SO2 pads, says de Assis. “The objective of the trials was to test the ability to ship fruit to distant markets such as Asia and Eastern Europe. The CA technology was developed in Germany and Erik Dunkelmann from Cargofresh Technologies, visited us to ask our opinion on the possibility of shipping mangoes to Germany using CA containers. The mango trials were positive and subsequently we followed this with a successful shipment of papayas. It was then that Hamburg Süd proposed a collaborative project to trial grapes,” he says.
“The initial test results from grapes indicate that we will be able to transport the fruit for 30 days without needing to use SO2.”
Sales and marketing manager for Cargofresh Erik Dunkelmann reiterates this point: “Certain Scandinavian countries would like to ban the use of SO2 pads, and both the French and German fruit trade associations are currently discussing the issue. There have not yet been any decisions in favour of a ban on SO2 pads.
“This new technology can withstand long sea voyages without the pads. Brazil is at the forefront of the research and if the technology finds its place in the grape sector then this will be a great breakthrough. Other alternatives to SO2 have been trialed by the South Africans using modified atmosphere with no S02 pads. However, the cartons used in this process are expensive to source,” he says.
“CA is a precisely calculated blend of oxygen, nitrogen and humidity in transport spaces that slows down the aging process of fruit and vegetables considerably, the development of harmful micro-organisms is retarded and undesirable emission gases are purged,” says Dunkelmann. The cargo is put into a kind of deep sleep, and preserved in the condition it arrived in. Throughout the voyage, the CA system monitors and regulates the parameters set in the cargo space.
“Customers are keen to see the new technology become commercial. Nevertheless, there is a fear that by banning the pads, the cost of seafreight using CA containers will rise. But on the other hand, there is an extra cost incurred in buying the material, inserting and then disposing of the SO2 pads, which are classified as special waste, as well as handling grape consignments upon arrival. This may not totally outweigh the extra cost of shipping in CA containers in comparison to regular reefer containers, but there is also the environmental cost, which is difficult to price in monetary terms,” adds Dunkelmann.
“Following this successful experiment, the shipping industry is richer by one important transport option, which makes it even more competitive to airfreight,” says Joachim A Konrad, member of the executive board of Hamburg Süd. “It shows that CA shipments may represent a true alternative to the use of SO2 conservation pads in the shipment of grapes. At the same time, the results are an important signal for the European market, since, besides Denmark, other states are considering imposing a statutory ban on the import of grapes with SO2 pads.”
Hamburg Süd ranks among the biggest container-shipping companies and has a special area of expertise in the transportation of temperature-controlled cargoes. The group has not only sponsored the most recent technical cooperation with Embrapa, but has also advanced the use of the quality-maintaining Automated Fresh Air Management, AFAM+, manufactured by ThermoKing Corporation. The shipping group conducted the first successful AFAM+ trial runs with organic grapes last season between the east coast of South America and Europe, and further trials are to follow shortly.
“We are focusing not just on one technology,” says Konrad, “and this is how we are able to offer a wide variety of reefer solutions individually tailored to our customers’ needs.”
The first commercial CA shipments using this new technology are expected to sail from Brazil at the start of their 2005 grape season in March/April. In the future, Cargofresh hopes that hundreds of CA containers carrying grapes will be shipped. Dunkelmann says: “What people don’t know yet, but has been shown in the Embrapa trials, is that the table grapes developed a longer shelf life after CA shipment - the grape stems remained extremely green and fresh and there was less berry drop. None are benefits when using SO2 pads.
“Eventually importers and consumers will discover the extra benefits once this programme is up and running. There’s a lot more to the grapes test and the sulphur pads are on their way out, one way or another. It will also be interesting to see what position UK importers take in this matter.”
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