Innovations Item Code: IN-2024-2100414
Sector: AgriTech/FoodTech
Description:
The solar dehydrator is a technology used for preserving foods such as vegetables and fruits. Conversely, bay leaf contains antimicrobial constituents that inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The concept involves combining both techniques for food preservation. Subsequently, the optimal performance of the developed system will be determined using machine learning algorithms.
Stage of Innovation: Idea (You have thought it through and documented it)
Problem:
Easily perishable foods such as fruits and vegetables often spoil due to the lack of adequate preservation methods, such as freezing, particularly in regions with insufficient electricity supply from the national grid, a common issue across Nigeria. Additionally, the alternative use of generators to power electronic appliances like refrigerators exacerbates the problem by contributing to the increasing volume of greenhouse gases. A device that serves dual purposes, providing energy and food preservation, could offer a solution.
The development of thin films from leaf extracts is gaining traction among scientists in Nigeria. This advancement could enhance our understanding of printing the chemical composition of bay leaf in the scientific realm.
Unique Selling Point: In this area, the use of solar energy for preserving agricultural foods is uncommon. Often, food is processed using open sun exposure. To my knowledge, there is no solar dryer that has been equipped with a thin film layer made from extracts of bay leaf, a known food preservative. Furthermore, machine learning will be employed to optimize the performance of the system. However, the primary innovation lies in incorporating a thin film layer derived from bay leaf chemicals as a key component of the solar dehydrator.