Tropical Agro Expands SmartFresh™ InBox for Apples and Fresh Produce to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses in India

26 July 2025, Chennai: Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt. Ltd. is expanding the footprint of SmartFresh™ InBox, a post-harvest technology developed by AgroFresh Inc., USA. The solution aims to curb India’s significant post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables by extending shelf life during storage and transportation.

India faces post-harvest losses exceeding 30% in its fruits and vegetables segment each year. SmartFresh™ InBoxaddresses this issue by offering on-the-go freshness protection during transit. The innovation is based on 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a plant growth regulator that delays ripening by blocking ethylene, the natural hormone responsible for fruit ripening and spoilage. Tropical Agro remains the only company in India licensed to use 1-MCP technology.

The sachet-based product is simple to apply—just place it in packed produce boxes at the farm, in controlled atmosphere storage, ports, or during transit. This ensures immediate protection and movement of produce, minimizing delays and reducing waste.

While currently approved for apples in India, field trials are ongoing for other fruits and vegetables. Globally, SmartFresh™ InBox has proven successful on crops including apples, pears, plums, kiwifruit, tomatoes, broccoli, melons, and watermelons. It has also shown promising results on grapes, guava, sapota, pomegranate, and custard apples.

In addition to extending freshness, the technology offers operational advantages such as reducing the dependence on cold storage, maximizing space efficiency, and supporting sustainability by cutting energy use and carbon emissions.

“We are proud to bring SmartFresh™ InBox to India at a time when reducing food waste is critical. This partnership with AgroFresh empowers our farmers and the agri-supply chain with a reliable, scalable freshness solution to help optimise resources and maximise returns,” said K. Venkatasubramanian, General Manager – Post Harvest Business, Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt. Ltd.

“India is a key market for AgroFresh Inc., and we are excited to partner with Tropical Agrosystem to bring our proven post-harvest technologies to Indian growers and supply chain stakeholders,” said Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Kundu, Account Manager – AgroFresh Inc., USA in India.

SmartFresh™ InBox is available in 250-sachet packs with two dosage options—0.625 grams and 1.25 grams—designed for varying produce quantities and handling needs.

Also Read: India’s Biostimulant Sector Faces Regulatory Breakdown: BASAI Calls for Urgent Government Action

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