Anti-Pathogen Irrigation Treatment for Crop Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Edible crops are often contaminated with human and plant pathogens due to contaminated irrigation water, leading to high levels of contamination and challenges in achieving food safety standards, especially when fungal diseases arise close to harvest, limiting the use of pesticides and extending the withholding period.
Innovation Solution
The use of anti-pathogen compounds like bromochlorodimethyl-hydantoin (BCDMH) or trichloro-isocyanuric acid (TICA) in irrigation water before harvest to reduce pathogen levels on crop surfaces, with a sensing probe to measure and dose the active ingredient, allowing for treatment closer to harvest without leaving residues that exceed Maximum Residue Levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pesticides are used to control fungal diseases, then the fungal problem is controlled, but the withholding period is extended and residue levels may exceed MRL
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the treatment agent from traditional pesticides to anti-pathogen compounds (such as halogens, bromine, iodine, cyanurate, hydantoin, peroxide, chlorine dioxide). These alternative compounds achieve fungal control with shorter degradation times, reducing the withholding period from days to hours while maintaining effectiveness against fungal diseases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs anti-pathogen compounds that act quickly and degrade rapidly, functioning as short-lived treatment agents. These compounds provide effective fungal control during the treatment period but break down quickly, allowing harvest to occur shortly after treatment without long residue persistence, thus minimizing the withholding period.
2Quantity of substance
If contaminated irrigation water is used for crop irrigation, then water conservation is achieved through recycling, but pathogen levels in the irrigation supply increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of pathogen-containing irrigation water into a beneficial treatment opportunity. By applying anti-pathogen compounds to the crops, the system eliminates the pathogens that were introduced through recycled irrigation water, thereby enabling water conservation while maintaining food safety through active pathogen destruction on crop surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-pathogen compound acts as an intermediary between the contaminated irrigation water and the crop. It mediates the harmful interaction by neutralizing pathogens in the water before they can infect the crop, allowing the use of recycled water while preventing pathogen transmission to the edible portion of the plant.
3Reliability
If pesticide spray is applied to control fungal diseases, then disease control is achieved, but pesticide residues remain on the crop at harvest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition and degradation parameters of the treatment agent. Instead of using persistent pesticide molecules, it employs anti-pathogen compounds (halogens, bromine, iodine, cyanurate, hydantoin, peroxide, chlorine dioxide) that degrade rapidly into harmless substances, eliminating residue accumulation on crops while maintaining disease control efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-pathogen compounds function as disposable treatment agents that perform their protective function and then rapidly decompose. This short-lived nature ensures that by the time of harvest, the compounds have broken down completely, leaving no persistent residues on the crop, thus eliminating the residue problem associated with traditional pesticides.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces pathogen levels on crops, enabling treatment much closer to harvest than traditional methods, ensuring food safety and reducing the risk of cross-contamination during transportation, while minimizing the withholding period and pesticide residue concerns.
Implementation Method 1
the removal of pathogens by the addition to irrigation water for the crops of an anti-pathogen compound
Implementation Method 2
the active ingredient be measured and dosed with a sensing probe such as ORP
Data Source
AI summary
In the growing of crops for consumption, a method for the removal of pathogens includes the addition to irrigation water for the crops of an anti-pathogen composition and supplying the anti-pathogen composition to the crops prior to harvest while normal irrigation is effected. The anti-pathogen composition is based on halogens, such as chlorine, bromine and iodine, or mixtures of halogens or halogens combined with other organic radicals including cyanurate, hydantoin, peroxide and chlorine dioxide. BCDMH and TICA are preferred anti-pathogen components of the anti-pathogen composition and may be added to a carrier concentrate and measured and dosed into the irrigation water.