South Africa’s Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) is conducting research trials on perishables transported by airfreight on trade routes from the country.This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cool Chain Association (CCA) that intends to use the trials to pinpoint the inefficiencies within the value chain and also make implementable recommendations to the relevant stakeholders to increase shelf life and reduce food loss and waste. According to Vijan Chetty, CCA director, this is also part of a process to address skills shortages around the globe. “The CCA wants to reinforce the message around the importance of training and up-skilling the air freight industry and the importance that temperature control plays in the quality of products. This awareness is becoming increasingly more important,” he told Freight News.Chetty, who is also the general manager for the PPECB, said this research and trials were very different from traditional research previously conducted.“The PPECB and CCA intend to review all variables that may impact product quality with efforts made to reduce product loss and waste and increase shelf life. Post-harvest handling, packaging, cooling and road transportation to the airports will be included in the research and trials initiatives,” he explained. “At a later stage of the project, we will also include the impact of climate change on products. However, the CCA is very excited to work towards best practice recommendations for air freight emanating from the research and trials initiatives.”Chetty said it was no secret that the advantage of utilising air freight for perishables was the speed from farm to table. “This is one factor that will always differentiate air and sea exports. The longer voyage times by sea exports are a given especially from destinations like South Africa to Europe. The CCA foresees that there will be a significant increase in air freight over the coming years due to consumers not willing to wait long periods to transport products across the globe.”At the same time, the shelf life of products was becoming more important for consumers, especially with the increase in inf lation. “If transported under optimum conditions, then air freight has an immediate advantage of longer shelf life as the products harvested today can be on the consumer's table ready for consumption tomorrow with the advantage of the same quality and freshness from the farm.”One of the biggest challenges, however, was the number of times the product was being handled during the journey, said Chetty.“The cool chain plays an integral part to ensure that the products maintain their integrity. Any delays on the tarmac or along the value chain will result in temperature excursions that will impact the shelf life of the product. “Unfortunately, aircraft are not designed to store and transport specific temperature-sensitive products at their optimum temperature. This is due to the cargo sharing common space and temperature on the aircraft.”He said part of the research plans was to research products that use dual modes of transport. “We have targeted blueberries to conduct research and trials using both air and sea modes of transport from South Africa to Europe and the United Kingdom. We shall commence with these trials very shortly.”
