NanoHemp

Fruticulture is a very dynamic sector in Chile, in terms of production, exports and job creation. According to data reported by ODEPA and the National Customs Service, in January 2015 there was an increase of 10.5% in the volume of fresh fruit exported, which is reflected in important economic contributions for the country. Among the most relevant countries for this market are the United States, which remains the main destination for Chilean exports, the Netherlands and China, which has increased its requirements in this area, reaching 46,900 tons. The great international demand for products from the fruit sector imposes on the country the challenge of incorporating itself more and more intensely into the international currents of knowledge, the development of science, technology and innovation, to develop and implement new technologies to ensure the quality and durability of products from harvest to marketing. Currently, the fruit and food industry uses cellulose fibre for the production of packaging materials, which has a low resistance to the attack of microorganisms, often favouring their proliferation. In order to find a solution to this problem, the development of biocaptive materials emerges as an excellent alternative for research and development, since they not only passively protect food products, but also include some type of functionalization that can actively improve their quality. Within these systems, the most common type of packaging is that which presents active compounds on its surface, such as antimicrobial agents. Based on the above, this project aims to develop new packaging materials to preserve quality attributes and extend the useful life of export products from the agricultural sector. The developed materials are based on nano-cellulose obtained from industrial hemp functionalized with copper molecules, to give it bioactive properties. In particular, the impact of this project is the development of a new additive, which will give greater resistance and biocidal activity to materials used in the packaging of products with great agricultural interest for export. In addition, this project contemplates the use of industrial hemp as a raw material for the production of nano-cellulose, a renewable resource with a short rotation rate and low water and soil requirements for reproduction, which makes it an attractive source of cellulose fibre for the development of new packaging.