Pasteurized Microalgae Biomass for Crop Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural practices face challenges in optimizing plant yield and quality, particularly in reducing bruising, increasing sweetness, and enhancing soil and plant health, without effective solutions for these issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a liquid composition containing pasteurized microalgae such as Chlorella and Aurantiochytrium acetophilum HS399 cells, which are administered to plants, seeds, or soil to enhance fruit sweetness, resistance to bruising, and reduce needle-drop, using a drip irrigation system and potentially combined with phosphoric acid and potassium sorbate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional agricultural practices are used, then basic plant growth is maintained, but fruit sweetness, resistance to bruising, and soil health cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming agricultural waste materials (straw, manure, food waste) through controlled thermal processing at specific temperatures (150-300°C) for defined time periods. This thermal treatment modifies the chemical and physical parameters of the waste materials, converting them into a stable biomass composition that enhances plant health, increases fruit sweetness by 2-32%, and reduces bruising by 2-100% while maintaining reliable crop performance.
2Reliability
If agricultural waste is not processed, then production costs are low, but plant health and fruit quality remain suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by utilizing agricultural waste materials that are already present on or near the farm (straw, manure, food waste) and converting them through relatively simple thermal processing into a valuable biomass amendment. This eliminates the need to import external soil amendments or fertilizers, allowing the farming system to service itself by transforming its own waste into resources that improve plant health, soil quality, and fruit characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal processing method transforms waste materials through controlled temperature and time parameters, creating a stable biomass composition that is easy to apply. The process converts variable waste inputs into a consistent, reliable product that enhances plant health and fruit quality without requiring complex manufacturing or processing infrastructure.
3Productivity
If thermal processing is applied to agricultural waste, then biomass composition is optimized for plant enhancement, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a flexible thermal processing regime where temperature (150-300°C) and time parameters can be adjusted based on the specific waste material composition and desired outcomes. This dynamic approach allows optimization of energy consumption by matching processing intensity to material requirements, achieving effective biomass transformation for enhancing fruit sweetness and yield while managing energy input according to actual needs rather than fixed protocols.
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
The method effectively increases fruit sweetness by 2-32%, reduces bruising by 2-100%, and decreases needle-drop by 5-20%, thereby improving plant health and shelf-life quality.
Implementation Method 1
The microalgae can include at least one of pasteurized Chlorella cells and pasteurized Aurantiochytrium acetophilum HS399 cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses biomass compositions for improving shelf life, increasing fruit water retention, and/or decreasing needle-drop in conifer species and methods for making the same. The composition comprises pasteurized microalgae selected from Chlorella, Aurantiochytrium, Scenedesmus, or any combination thereof.