Objective
The pomegranate fruit possesses unique characteristics both of nutritional and medical value. Despite its many advantages, it is currently a minor crop with limited marketability. The major obstacles to the realisation of the full potential of this unique fruit are the difficulties in mechanically retrieving the internal edible seeds. The current crude manual process of extracting the seeds is laborious and costly, and discourages potential consumers from buying the fruit. It is aimed by this project to develop:
- a mechanical system producing 500 kg/hour of clean and undamaged seeds. - a suitable Modified Atmosphere Packaging for the seeds, maintaining original quality for at least 6 weeks. and investigate:
- the application of pomegranate seeds in different foodstuffs. To reach this goals it will be necessary to work on the following aspects:
- automation and robotics for fruit sorting systems - investigation of the post-harvest physiology of pomegranates - identification of optimum package - study of the effect of inactivating the micro-organism and enzymes in pomegranate seeds - investigation of new approaches for utilising edible coatings
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
EAW - Exploratory awardsCoordinator
75363 RISHON LE ZION
Israel