Nanomaterial for Postharvest Management

A more efficient and productive postharvest management system is required to meet the global food demand of growing population by reducing losses and enhancing food quality. So, the post-harvest handling of food crops is necessary because the large portion of food crops are lost before it reaches in market for consumption. Postharvest management is a crucial practice followed for the enhancement of quality and extending the shelf life of agricultural and horticultural products. Continuous postharvest loss emphasizes the importance of this innovative approach to improvise postharvest management technology. However, traditional practices such as hot water treatment, cold storage, and the use of chemicals are not enough to minimize postharvest loss and microbial attack, and enhance the quality of fruits and vegetables effectively. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising technique in addressing the issues in postharvest management. Nanomaterials have immense potential to increase the preservation, storage, packaging, and quality of agricultural products due to their unique physicochemical properties. This advanced approach provides a deep insight on applying the nanomaterials in postharvest field. Nanomaterials not only control postharvest loss but also maintain the quality of fruits and vegetables. These nanomaterials have different applications on horticulture products to increase their shelf life, regulate their safety, and maintain their quality. These applications include coatings, spray, dipping, and packaging. Nanomaterials provide promising effects to improve the shelf life of agricultural products by controlling microbial growth and changing the postharvest physiology. Additionally, nanomaterials can maintain their properties throughout the storage period for years without changing their characteristics and can be used safely for the preservation of food items, as they do not contaminate the pulp.