Post-harvest technologies (+microbiology)(NAPRO) (KB-29-007-003)

Agro-logistic chains show great variability in number of steps, conditions, duration that eventually lead to a certain quality of fresh produce at the consumer. Challenges in these chains are how to cope with variation in starting quality of material (due to cultivar differences, variations in growing conditions) and linking this to varying chain conditions while keeping good quality product. Another challenge which makes trade of fresh produce difficult is the possible presence of (quarantine) pests, which can hamper or incidentally entirely block trade.