Post-Harvest Produce Composition for Fungal Decay and Shelf-Life

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural produce, particularly fruits and vegetables, suffer significant post-harvest loss due to fungal and bacterial decay, with conventional fungicides facing issues of resistance and environmental/human health hazards, and alternative methods having economic or efficacy limitations.

Innovation Solution

A combination of cinnamaldehyde and fludioxonil is applied to agricultural produce to prevent or decrease post-harvest decay and extend shelf-life, with the option of a synergistic composition including agrochemically suitable excipients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional fungicides are used to control post-harvest decay, then fungal pathogens are effectively inhibited, but resistance develops and environmental/human health hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefungicidal efficacyVSAvoidenvironmental and human health hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by switching from conventional fungicides to essential oil-based compounds (cinnamaldehyde, eucalyptol, menthol, carvacrol) with different chemical properties. These natural compounds offer alternative mechanisms of action that do not share the same resistance development pathways as conventional fungicides, while maintaining efficacy against fungal pathogens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs natural essential oils that can be readily degraded or metabolized by the plant and environment, avoiding the persistence and bioaccumulation issues of synthetic fungicides. These natural compounds provide effective control without long-term environmental persistence, aligning with the principle of using temporary, biodegradable substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If chemical fungicides are applied to prevent post-harvest decay, then shelf-life is extended, but environmental pollution and health hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf-lifeVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of fungal pathogens into a beneficial outcome by using their metabolic byproducts or interaction mechanisms. The essential oil compounds disrupt fungal cell membranes and metabolic processes, turning the harmful fungal presence into a controlled interaction that extends shelf-life without environmental pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters from synthetic fungicides to natural essential oils. These natural compounds (cinnamaldehyde, eucalyptol, menthol, carvacrol) have different chemical structures and degradation pathways that eliminate environmental persistence and pollution while maintaining the shelf-life extension function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If alternative post-harvest treatments are used, then environmental hazards are reduced, but economic cost and efficacy limitations remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental hazardsVSAvoideconomic efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple essential oil compounds (cinnamaldehyde, eucalyptol, menthol, carvacrol) into a composite treatment formulation. This combination approach enhances synergistic efficacy against fungal pathogens while maintaining the environmental benefits of natural compounds, achieving both reduced hazards and improved economic efficiency through enhanced productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system using multiple essential oil components working together. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of each compound to achieve superior fungicidal activity and shelf-life extension compared to single compounds, while maintaining environmental safety and economic viability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 combination effectively reduces post-harvest decay and increases shelf-life by inhibiting fungal pathogens, delaying senescence, and improving the appearance and marketability of fruits and vegetables.

Implementation Method 1

The combination effectively reduces post-harvest decay and increases shelf-life by inhibiting fungal pathogens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFungal inhibition:

Implementation Method 2

delaying senescence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSenescence delay:

Data Source

PatentUS20260096568A1A post-harvest solution for agricultural produce

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 DECCO WORLDWIDE POST HARVEST HLDG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a combination, a composition, and an application method thereof for preventing or decreasing post-harvest spoilage or decay and extending shelf life of agricultural produce. The present invention provides a method of preventing or decreasing post-harvest spoilage or decay and extending shelf-life of an agricultural produce by applying a combination comprising cinnamaldehyde and a fungicidal active, or a composition comprising said combination.