DRDO-Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) has recently unveiled a remarkable breakthrough—an anti-freeze container designed for the transportation of fruits and vegetables in hostile, high-altitude terrains. Overcoming the challenges faced by armed forces, this innovative solution ensures the freshness, quality, and edibility of perishable food items without the need for chilling or electricity.
Transporting fruits and vegetables to remote and inaccessible terrains has long been a challenge due to the harsh environmental conditions that deter their use. The new anti-freeze container developed by DFRL revolutionizes this process. By utilizing freezing techniques, the container preserves the food for extended periods, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms responsible for spoilage and foodborne illnesses. This preservation method protects the flavor, color, moisture content, and nutritive value of the product, ensuring its quality remains intact.
The efficacy of the anti-freeze container was recently demonstrated by a team of dedicated scientists and technologists in the forward areas of the Siachen glacier. This hostile terrain provided the perfect testing ground to showcase the container’s ability to maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables without the need for chilling. The successful demonstration confirmed the container’s suitability for transportation in extreme conditions.
Access to fresh and nutritious food is crucial for the armed forces stationed in remote areas. With the introduction of the anti-freeze container, DFRL aims to address this need effectively. The container enables the transportation of fruits and vegetables to forward areas, ensuring the availability of essential nutrients for the armed forces. By overcoming the challenges posed by hostile environments, this innovative solution enhances the quality of food provided to our defenders.
The unveiling of the anti-freeze container took place during DFRL’s exhibition held on National Technology Day, celebrated annually on May 11 in India. This significant day commemorates the anniversary of Shakti, the Pokhran nuclear test conducted on May 11, 1998. The exhibition aimed to emphasize the role of science in everyday life and inspire students to pursue careers in the scientific field. Alongside the container, DFRL showcased other recently developed products and technologies.
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In line with the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, DFRL also exhibited a range of millet-based products. Millets, recognized for their nutritional value, were showcased as essential ingredients in various Ready to Eat (RTE) millet bars, instant millet mixes, and millet flour blends. The scientists emphasized the importance of millets in daily life, promoting their use among the tri-services and the general public.
DFRL’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to innovative food solutions. In the previous year, DFRL developed biodegradable carry bags as an eco-friendly alternative to non-degradable single-use plastics. These bags decompose within a short span of 180 days, leaving no trace behind and mitigating the problem of littering. By popularizing the use of these biodegradable bags, DFRL aims to reduce the accumulation of municipal solid waste and contribute to environmental conservation efforts.
The development of the anti-freeze container by the DRDO-Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) marks a significant breakthrough in ensuring the quality and freshness of fruits and vegetables during transportation to challenging terrains. By leveraging freezing techniques without the need for electricity, this innovative solution addresses the obstacles faced by the armed forces in accessing nutritious food. DFRL’s commitment to sustainability is further evident through the exhibition of millet-based products and the introduction of biodegradable carry bags. These initiatives highlight the laboratory’s dedication to advancing technology, promoting food security, and protecting the environment.
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