The invention measures quality and stage attributes ripening of fruits for the wine growing market. O prize of 30 thousand reais will be invested in technical improvements of the equipment
A technology developed by researchers from Unicamp and the Federal University of Vale de São Francisco (univasf), with a patent application already filed by the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency in National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), is among the winners of the Minds of Innovation Award, promoted by Bayer and LifeHub São Paulo. It is a device that measures quality attributes and stadium of ripening grapes intended for wine production.
Designed for the wine growing market, the project was selected among twelve others with innovative and market potential in the areas of health and agriculture. The winners of the Mentes da Inovação Award receive 30 thousand reais, and can also obtain support from LifeHub São Paulo to accelerate the solutions presented. The aim of the award is to promote research projects capable of generating innovative products or solutions for the consumer market.
"The award will help us continue with studies around the technology, in order to improve technical aspects of the device, such as the possibility of storing results in the cloud”, says Bárbara Teruel, researcher at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (Feagri) and advisor of the doctoral research that gave rise to the technology.
The motivation to develop this technology came from Daniel Costa's doctoral research. He had the collaboration of professor Rodrigo Ramos, from the Federal University of Vale de São Francisco (UNIVASF), where he also works as a professor. The researchers detected the need for an invention of this nature in the grape producing market for winemaking, currently expanding in Brazil, especially in the Northeast region.
The Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA), carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), indicates an increase of 4,9% in the grape harvest in 2021. This was also proven in the validations of equipment tests – called OPTOFruit - carried out on a farm located in the municipality of Lagoa Grande (PE), in the Vale de São Francisco region, an area with strong potential for the production and sale of fruits.
"Brazilian wineries are increasingly increasing sales and improving the quality of wines and grapes. In this scenario, our equipment facilitates the analysis of parameters that define the harvest point and quality of each crop”, explains Teruel.
Technology difference
Determining the quality of a grape harvest usually requires destructive analyses, time and high investment, as the producer needs to harvest grape berries and send them for analysis in specialized laboratories. OPTOFruit does not require laboratory analysis and can be used in the field, without losses: simply position the equipment strategically on the samples of grape bunches used as samples and obtain the measurement results using software installed on any computer .
"The analysis is done through the strategic positioning of OPTOFruit and the release of light beams. Optical responses are converted into grape quality attributes, without the need to remove them from the bunch. Quality attributes involve acidity, sugars, degree of ripeness, anthocyanins and flavonoids. These last two are phenolic compounds, one of the main components of red wine, and which, according to several studies, can help prevent diseases. The determination of these compounds depends on the existence of chromatography and specialized techniques.”, explains Teruel.
OPTOFruit was validated in proof of concept with measurements on grapes from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varieties. However, it is possible to change the settings for other grape varieties and even other types of fruit, depending on the producer's needs.
"The process, in addition to reducing analysis time, costs much less for the producer, as it does not require a laboratory structure and can be carried out in the field, after some prior guidance”, says the researcher.
For the device to reach the market, it is necessary to license the technology. Companies or startups interested in this segment can negotiate a license to exploit intellectual property, owned by Unicamp, for direct sale, or opt for other business strategies, such as rental and consultancy services. More information on the Inova website in the area Connection with Companies.
Learn more:
● For more information about the technologies at the State University of Campinas, visit the Unicam Patent and Software Portfoliop.
● The full Innovation Agency Annual Report is available to download and consultation.
● also download the Inventors Award Magazine and read reports about technologies licensed from Unicamp for the market.
● Companies interested in licensing can contact Inova in the area Connection with Companies.
Read more:
Sensors evaluate fruit quality non-destructively
Original article published on the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency website.
