General Grains

Good grain preservation equals business opportunities. Very often, a more competitive market value for the grain is found months after harvest. Intelligent and quality storage becomes an economic advantage and an opportunity for VacQPack to add value.

To keep a high standard grain quality for longer periods, insects like moths, beetles and mites must be kept out, and the grain must be stored in proper temperature and moisture conditions.

Grain has a fairly low moisture content and counts on its protective outer layer for impermeability. It also has low thermal conductivity. In storage environments there is a propensity for grain to lose moisture to the adjacent atmosphere.

Grain is liable to damage by heat, infestation, evaporation, and contact with water, instigating respectively germination, fermentation and putrefaction.

VacQPack is aware, from its experience in the field, that the long term storage management of grain is a sensitive issue. A long term preservation solution to maintaining post-harvest grain’s sensorial attributes and general quality and preservation of the integrity of grain requires a storage system with special attention to the following factors:

• Grain temperature
• Grain moisture
• Relative humidity (RH)
• Storage time

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), in combination with vacuum and temperature, supported by data recording and customized organically compliant treatment programs will address these factors fully.

Particularly in the case of grains, controlling temperature is critical, as Cornel S Adler’s white paper demonstrates. In fact, VacQPack uses a temperature value higher than 75ºF to make sure that all laid eggs will find no oxygen to survive on hatching.

VacQPack technology has a proven track record with grain preservation, with experience in hot and warm climates, in different infrastructures, cultures, and countries. With the majority of grain types (barley, corn/maize, oat, rice, spelt, wheat and quinoa), the VacQPack system is capable of controlling moisture content to acceptable levels for organically compliant packaging. Other types of grains can be tested by VacQPack, and new preservation programs will be rendered.