Improvement of Fish Drying in Traditional Communities of the Atlantic Forest: Incremental Innovation with PVT Solar Dryer in the Ribeira Valley, São Paulo

• Grant number: 24/13914-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Fisheries Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Érico Tadao Teramoto
• Grantee: Arthur Queiroz Diniz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus do Vale do Ribeira. Registro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Solar radiation, a renewable source of clean and free energy, plays a strategic role in sustainable food production. The use of solar energy for food drying is attractive due to its cost-effectiveness and the possibility of direct application by rural producers. In recent years, photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) dryers have emerged as a technological innovation, allowing the use of heat generated by cooling photovoltaic panels in food drying. This project proposes the use of PVT dryers for the production of bottarga by traditional communities in the Atlantic Forest, replacing the conventional sun-drying method. This technology is expected to reduce contamination by fungi and bacteria and decrease lipid oxidation, preventing product deterioration. Furthermore, the implementation of PVT dryers can provide additional electrical energy for the community during the off-season periods of bottarga. Thus, the proposal aims to develop a socially sustainable solution that values local production, increases community income, and promotes the bioeconomy of fishing. The project also has the potential to serve as a reference for applying eco-friendly processes to other traditional communities to improve quality of life.