GreenPod Labs

GreenPod Labs Insights: After banana harvest, bananas are washed with chlorine water and synthetic chemicals (anti-microbial) before being packed into 13 Kg boxes for the export supply chain. We heard from our customers that despite using synthetic chemicals they were still facing microbial growth in the destination market. To investigate this further, we wanted to understand the inconsistencies in the banana washing process and the microbial impact on that. We took actual water samples from the banana wash station and tested them for enumeration of microbes in our in-house microbiology lab. In a single farm on average 600 boxes of bananas are packed in a day - we took the water samples at the start during box 1 and at the end, after box 600. The synthetic chemical is added at the start of the process and used for the entire 600 boxes. This helped us compare the two extremes and evaluate where inconsistencies are. The results were fascinating, box 1 had zero cfu after the synthetic chemical wash, but, box 600 had 10^6 cfu per ml of microbes (extremely high). The effectiveness of the synthetic chemical in eradicating the surface microbes diminishes throughout the process. Thus despite using synthetic chemicals bananas are getting microbial spoilage at the destination market. This gives us more confidence to build the product for both delaying ripening and controlling surface microbes for the banana export market. Tharshini Venkatesh GAYATHRI SAIVENKATESH Dr. Shankar Subramaniam Chakravarthy M #microbes #greenpodlabs #spoilage #banana

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: Speaking customer language doesn’t mean the actual language or dialect alone but the words you’re using with them. This is very important while you work with a customer and help resonate with him. This helps build early trust faster. For example, within the fruit export market "customers' complaints" are referred to as “Claims”. During our early customer conversations, when we asked the exporters what type of customer complaints they received - they could not go deeper and, the responses always were surface level. When we learned about the term “Claims” and started using that with the exporters - the response rate increased significantly and with high precision. They started classifying the claims across different intensities and sharing the economics behind those claims. This information was super valuable for us to understand the importance of different quality-related challenges. Just by changing the words from “Customer complaints” to “Claims” - the customers were able to speak in specificity within their operations and had the right context. Link: https://lnkd.in/gjrdw7Wx #greenpodlabs #innovation #spoilage #exports #customerlanguage

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: In a banana lungar, each bunch is classified as 4 hands, 5 or 6 hands, and 8 hands (as shown in the figure). The banana ripening characteristics change between the 4 hands, 6 hands, and 8 hands.  We wanted to understand this phenomenon technically, hence we started tracking the respiration rate of different bunches over their shelf life. The results showed a significant difference (45%) in respiration rate between 4 hands and 8 hands on day 14 at ambient temperature. 4 hands bunch present at the top of the banana lungar would ripen first - as the banana maturity starts from the top to bottom. This is translated on the respiration rate very well (4 hands respiring faster than 8 hands). In the destination markets for exports, 4 hands banana is considered premium bananas and fetches higher prices. At the same time, 4 hands are more susceptible to ripening-related spoilage and microbial growth. This is a very interesting problem to solve - extend the shelf life of 4 hands banana to reach longer markets and achieve higher prices. We just focused on building our product for 4 hands banana - providing the right economics for the exporters. Subramani சுப்ரமணி Chakravarthy M Jaganivash B #greenpodlabs #innovation #banana #spoilage

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: The fresh produce supply chain is very dynamic, the temperature and humidity is changes constantly. Quality control within this dynamic nature is important. Simulating the actual supply chain conditions within your R&D facility is very critical to see how our product could add value to the real challenges. One of the tools we use for this is our temperature, and humidity chamber - where we can simulate different supply conditions (various temperatures and humidity) to test the product and validate the functionality. This helps to bridge the gap between real-life fruits/ vegetables supply chain and in-house R&D validation. Once the initial validation is completed, running supply chain trials is critical for our product validation. Chakravarthy M Tharshini Venkatesh GAYATHRI SAIVENKATESH Jaganivash B

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: Banana exporters had a practice of not picking up bananas for export from the corner of a farm plot. We wanted to understand the rationale behind that. Last week, we visited 6 different farms and mapped out all the variations within the farm from corner to center. The banana trunk temperature across the farm varied from 26*C to 29*C due to sun exposure- very distinctive data. An increase in temperature and light exposure directly affects the photosynthesis process of the plant thus increasing the crop maturity. Thus the bananas on the corner plot are more susceptible to ripening (images show the same) than the center of the farm. When these bananas go into the export supply chain, it causes ripening related spoilage at the destination. Knowing the industry practices and building a data backing for it - is fascinating. This also helps us understand the value that we can provide for the export market. Dr. Shankar Subramaniam Chakravarthy M Jaganivash B GAYATHRI SAIVENKATESH Deep Chaudhari Manuj Gaikwad Piyush Kumar #banana #export #trunktemperature #greenpodlabs #farm #spoilage

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: During the banana procurement for export market - several quality parameters are measured but the documentation is not done properly by majority of customers. This is massive problem to completely build transparency and predictability. While we were looking at bring in data science to eliminate human labor to quantify the quality parameters, they by-product is to keep a digital record of all the quality parameters across all the procurement. This would help the customer constantly improve their crop procurement practices and processes. Below is an example of digitizing pulp % of banana using AI/ML. #banana #exports #greenpodlabs

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: The fresh produce supply chain is extremely complex. Even different varieties of the same crop need completely different supply chain practices to effectively maintain quality and achieve highest economic gains. When we were spending time in Muzaffarpur, Bihar for the Litchi value chain. The two major varieties - Shahi and China variety had completely different quality and supply chain challenges. Shahi variety would turn brown within 48 hours after harvest. However, China variety is more prone to mold growth within 48 hours than the browning of the fruit. While developing processes, technology, and systems - we need to be cognizant of these inherent differences in the varieties. Closely working with the customers in the market helps us understand the nuances much better and build products accordingly. #litchi #greenpodlabs #innovation #foodloss #valuechain

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: More than a post-harvest company GreenPod Labs is a crop-science company. Understanding the industry practices from the customers and mapping them with the theoretical crop understanding - helps us to build the product more precisely. One of the recent examples of this: For the banana export during the crop procurement - pulp % is a very critical crop quality parameter. Customers take the middle banana finger in each bunch of bananas to measure pulp% - they felt this data is more reliable. When we went deeper and understood the reason behind this. The banana cell division starts from the middle finger in a bunch - this translates into reaching a higher crop maturing within the bunch first. Thus measuring the middle finger gives the most accurate maturity levels for crop procurement. Mapping the crop theoretical understanding with the on-filed practices bridges the gap between our R&D and customers. #banana #maturity #greenpodlabs #innovation #foodloss

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: While exploring the Litchi domestic and export opportunities, we were looking at how other countries were doing. We were super surprised to see Madagascar contributes to 35% of global exports despite a production volume of 100,000 tons annual production. India is the second largest producer of Litchi but contributes to less than 1% of the global export. This leaves such a huge opportunity on the table. #Lychee #India #Litchi #Innovation #Export Link: https://lnkd.in/g_pn3krE

GreenPod Labs Market Insights: Geopolitical issues have a direct impact on global agriculture trade. A clear example was seen between Russia and Ecuador for banana exports. Ecuador used to export bananas worth $780 Mn to Russia. However, the banana trade was impacted due to geopolitical tensions between the two countries. Russia and India got on trade relations for multiple agricultural commodities such as bananas and papaya. This poses a huge opportunity and challenges as well. The sea travel from India to Russia would take 45 to 60 days - maintaining the highest quality during this journey becomes a prime requirement to maximize this potential. APEDA and Indian Exporters are actively evaluating this opportunity. Farm maintenance, crop care, infrastructure, packaging, supply chain parameters, and end-to-end focus are needed on this journey. Link: https://lnkd.in/gmtRUrxG #banana #greenpodlabs #innovation #russia #india