Yield and freshness improvement of fruits and vegetables by pulsed power plasma

Growing populations, a changing climate, decreasing amounts of farmland and lower fertility soils are just a few of the many problems facing the world's food supply. Because of these multitude of changes, the agricultural industry and researchers recognise a dire need for more sustainable agriculture practices and technologies. Novel technologies and methods of improving crop yields while reducing waste throughout the food supply chain are two ways that we can reduce the pressure on our already stretched food supplies. A more sustainable and less wasteful system can also go a long way to providing higher quality goods to the segments of society that do not have the luxury of shopping at continually stocked, modern grocery stores. The methods used to tackle this problem vary, from increasing soil fertility via improved management practices to genetically modifying agriculture products themselves. Each comes with its own drawbacks and public perceptions of the impacts. But what they all have in common is the need for a multi-disciplinary approach involving botanists, biologists and chemists. There will never be one magic bullet solution and collaboration not only leads to novel applications it also breeds innovation and produces advances in knowledge that may one day inspire new breakthroughs. Professor Koichi Takaki is part of an interdisciplinary team of engineers and biologists taking this approach to heart and blending the fields of high-voltage electrical and plasma engineering with biology in the hopes of shaking up the entire agricultural industry.