Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage as it is currently known and utilized is a 20th century innovation, but the fundamentals of how it functions stem from research conducted as early as the early 1800s. Best suited for fruits and vegetables that are climacteric – referring to produce that suitably ripens after being picked due to its emission of ethylene gas – CA storage greatly extends the freshness of a season’s harvest. Maximizing sales and limiting spoilage, CA storage practices enable growers to best participate in global supply chain markets. How can refined post-harvest insights further boost the benefits of investing in high cost storage infrastructure?

Supply chains are intricate, highly technical systems that, inevitably, are full of predictable stressors – and those lovely surprise (!) issues, too. When it comes to fruit production, growers, pickers, shippers, and work crew managers must sprint against the time trials of the season, before, during, and after harvest. The season waits for no one, so how can fresh fruit supply chain hiccups be soothed, to boost profitability and limit waste?

New technology solutions continue to enter the agtech market aiming to ease the challenges with sustainable commercial growing. From refining labor needs to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and pesticides, today’s cutting-edge innovations are focused on using resources more efficiently and mindfully. Much like how Croptracker continues to find new ways for farm management to be safer and more profitable, other agtech players aim to close the gap on all things growing, especially as each season offers its surprises.

Check our roundup of recent and upcoming innovations throughout the agtech sector below the fold.

Agriculture has always been about adaptation: tweaking practices, nurturing ideal conditions against the year’s odds, and honing in on cultivars that can be coaxed into thriving for a predictable harvest. It’s practicing equal parts ‘planning with foresight’ and ‘embracing what comes’ – and 2021’s cherry season certainly required the stamina and resilience that draws from both elements.

Will the apple harvest in North America require much of the same?