1. สำนักงานพัฒนาวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยีแห่งชาติ

The “Inno-FreshPack” project recognizes that the suitable packaging technology can provide the solution to the aforementioned difficulties in the logistics of the fresh produce. To explore this potential, mango and rambutan, which are high-value export produce, are chosen for the long distance transport case studies. In 2013, Thai mango export values reached 853.5 million baht with the volumes of 33,035 tons which were accounted for only 1.11% of total Thailand mango production. As for rambutan, the export values were about 147.8 million baht with the volumes of 4,222 tons which were accounted for only 1.26% of total rambutan production in 2013. Another prospect to consider adopting packaging technology solution is the storage of fresh produce for off-season trade. Lime is of interest in the case study as its production volumes were about 120,141 tons in year 2012 (ref: Office of Agricultural Economics). However, the market supply and demand of lime are not necessarily correlated. During the dry season when lime is scarce, the retail price of lime can climb up to 5-10 baht each while in rainy season the price can drop to 1 baht each (the whole sale price is around 0.5 baht each in peak season and 2.5 baht each during off-season).

The Specialty Breathable Packaging by Porous Polypropylene Film (Porous PP film) is the key technology in response to the fresh produce logistic difficulty. Porous PP film is the second product in the Inno-FreshPack product group aiming for freshness retention of very high respiration rate fresh produce. The study focuses on developing the porous polypropylene film using uniaxial stretching technique such that the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) is above 100,000 cc/m2-day, the permeability ratio of CO2 to O2 (PCO2/PO2) equals to 1.0 and the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) is below 500 g/m2-day.

In business strategy, the B2B2C approach that focuses on the customer demands (customer centric) is applied. The key value proposition that will be communicated to the customers are the value of quality and freshness preservation to consumers, the benefit from changing mode of transportation, i.e., delivering fresh produce by land or ship instead of by air as well as the significance of fresh produce storage for off-season market, which can potentially provide price stabilization in some fresh produce markets. Moreover, the application co-development is a key activity to field-test the developed packaging products under the collaboration with the fresh produce supply chain operators and exporters.

Based on the financial analysis of 8 years (R&D for 3 years and impact evaluation for 5 years after commercializing the products), The business licensee of the “Specialty Breathable Packaging by Porous Polypropylene Film” will thrive at the Net Present Value (NPV) of approximately 5.70 million baht. The Financial Internal Rate of Return (FIRR) will be 38%. The payback period will be within 2.64 years. Overall resulting impacts of the project, from economic, social and environmental aspects, are projected to be about 1,732.47 million baht with the project NPV of 995.80 million baht and the Economics Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) equals 299%.