Tropical Agro Deploys AI-Driven Tech Tools to Combat India’s Massive Post-Harvest Fruit Losses

Tropical Agrosystem (India) Ltd., in partnership with AgroFresh™, has launched Strella and Rubens—globally acclaimed AI-enabled technologies—to tackle India’s annual fruit wastage, estimated at 7.36 million tonnes. These tools bring wireless ripening sensors and spectral scanners to orchards and packhouses, optimizing harvest timing, preserving fruit quality, and boosting farmer profitability.

Tropical Agro Deploys AI-Driven Tech Tools to Combat India’s Massive Post-Harvest Fruit Losses

Tropical Agro’s AI-Powered Farm-Tech Tackles India’s 7 Million Tonnes Fruit Loss Problem

  • Industry breakthrough: Tropical Agrosystem (India) Ltd. is rolling out Strella and Rubens, state-of-the-art AI-enabled technologies for post-harvest fruit management. This is set to address one of India’s biggest food system challenges—annual fruit losses of over 7 million tonnes, impacting both food security and farmer income.
  • Global partnership: In collaboration with AgroFresh™, a leader in produce freshness and supply chain tech, Tropical Agro brings Strella’s wireless sensors and Rubens’ non-destructive spectral scanners to Indian orchardists and packhouses for the first time.
  • Integrated smart platform: Both tools sync with FreshCloud™, a real-time data dashboard that tracks fruit maturity, ripening gases, temperature, humidity, and storage conditions along the entire supply chain.

How Strella & Rubens Work: AI and the Indian Fruit Supply Chain

  • Strella Sensors: Wireless devices that monitor key indicators—ethylene gas, CO2, O2, temperature, and humidity—in cold storage, giving live recommendations for optimal storage and timing to reduce waste.
  • Rubens Spectral Scanner: A handheld device for orchard use, allowing farmers to instantly gauge fruit maturity (brix, firmness, starch levels) non-destructively and determine the best harvest window. Rubens also boosts quality control at packhouses and CA stores.
  • FreshCloud Dashboard: Integrates all sensor and scanner data, enabling actionable insights, traceability, and optimized decisions from orchard to consumer.
  • Initial rollout: Focused on major crops like apples and pears, with a subscription-based model to support broad Indian adoption.

By solving problems like premature fruit dropping, handling errors, and poor ripening control, this tech suite is transforming India's fruit sector from harvest to home.

The Scale of India’s Post-Harvest Challenge

  • Fruit wastage: According to NABARD Consultancy Services, India loses up to 7.36 million tonnes of fruit annually—apples alone account for losses of ₹29,500 crore, with some studies estimating wastage rates above 10%.
  • Core issues: Supply chain gaps—dropped fruit, improper handling, poor scientific post-harvest practices, over-ripening, and a lack of analytic tools—drive persistent spoilage and economic loss.
  • AI-enabled monitoring: Strella and Rubens close these gaps by automating fruit maturity tracking, providing instant, data-backed recommendations, and enabling smarter storage and market decisions.

Expert Voices & Impact

  • V.K. Jhaver, Founder, Tropical Agro: “Given India’s supply chain complexities, Strella and Rubens offer ideal solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and improve grower profitability.”
  • K. Venkatasubramanian, GM – Post Harvest Business: “Our focus is on reducing losses—especially in apples—preserving quality, and enabling smarter, data-led decisions for all agri stakeholders.”
“This initiative reflects our commitment to delivering sustainable, tech-driven solutions benefiting the entire value chain, from farm to consumer.” —Tropical Agro management

Features That Drive Change

  • Wireless sensors for ripening and storage monitoring
  • Non-destructive maturity scanning in orchards
  • Integrated analytics and traceability via FreshCloud
  • Boosts farmer income through reduced wastage and improved market quality
  • Supports India’s ambition to become the “Food Basket of the World”

FAQ – AI Tech & Post-Harvest Fruit Management

FAQs – Tropical Agro’s AI Tech Tools

Pilot deployments show double-digit percentage drops in wastage, higher market quality, and better shelf-life; national programs could save crores for the Indian economy.
Apples and pears are the initial focus, but plans include expansion to other fruits and major vegetables, broadening the reach of advanced post-harvest tech in India.
Yes, a subscription model covers both large and small growers, making these AI tools accessible, affordable, and scalable across India’s diverse farming community.

Internal links: India AI Fruit Tech News, Farm to Table Innovation, AgriTech Case Studies

Sources & Further Reading

Sources: India Technology News, NABCONS, ICAR-CIPHET, AgroFresh Inc.

Sneak peek: Tropical Agro’s rollout of Strella and Rubens sets a new benchmark for AI-driven food loss prevention, signaling India’s progress towards a smarter, sustainable agricultural future.

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