Agricultural Transport Solutions

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is piloting a sustainable packaging solution in Isabela aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and lowering the carbon footprint of agricultural transport. The initiative, led by the DOST Industrial Technology and Development Institute’s Packaging Technology Division in partnership with the Provincial Science and Technology Office, utilizes cushion pads made from pineapple leaf fibers as a supplementary packaging material.

Currently being tested on honeydew melons at Simons Farm in Sta. Ana, Echague, the project is evaluating the material’s effectiveness in minimizing transport-related damage, including bruising and softening during long-distance distribution. As a part of this, the research team collects 600 to 800 kilograms of honeydew melons, packs them using the new prototypes, and loads them into a van.

Image Credit: