Cranfield University and Westfalia Fruit UK Limited KTP 24_25 R4

Every third avocado in the UK supply chain rots before it reaches a kitchen counter. Cranfield University and Westfalia Fruit UK are working together to stop that waste by redesigning how avocados are stored and moved from harvest to consumer. The problem is straightforward but stubborn: avocados ripen unpredictably, and current storage methods cannot reliably slow that process without damaging the fruit. The research team will test new storage conditions—temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition—and track how the fruit responds at each stage of the supply chain. The goal is a set of practical protocols that keep avocados edible for longer without relying on chemical treatments. If the work succeeds, the immediate impact is less waste in supermarket bins and fewer shipments discarded before they reach shops. But the bigger effect is on the supply chain itself: more predictable shelf life means retailers can order with confidence, farmers get paid for more of what they grow, and consumers pay less for fruit that stays fresh. This is applied research with a direct commercial target—there is no fundamental science here, only engineering and logistics aimed at a measurable reduction in postharvest loss.