ACTIVE FILM BASED ON CASSAVA STARCH FUNCTIONALIZED WITH CaCl2 AND INCORPORATED WITH ESSENTIAL OIL: DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION, AND INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIAL FOR POSTHARVEST PRESERVATION OF STRAWBERRIES

• Grant number: 25/13379-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Process Engineering of Agricultural Products
• Principal Investigator: Marcos David Ferreira
• Grantee: Júlia Ferreira Henrique
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although recycling initiatives and waste reduction policies exist, more than 70% of the plastic generated globally is still discarded into ecosystems. In the agricultural production chain, disposable plastic packaging and films are ubiquitous, and their persistence in the environment has been increasingly associated with risks to biodiversity, food security, and human health. In this context, the intensive reliance on plastic for the packaging, transport, and display of fruits underscores the urgency of finding solutions that combine postharvest quality preservation with truly sustainable strategies. Biodegradable packaging based on biopolymers emerges as a promising alternative to petrochemical plastics due to their biodegradability, low cost, and renewable origin. Incorporating additives such as calcium chloride (CaCl2) acts as a polymer crosslinker, potentially enhancing the mechanical and thermal properties of the films, making them more suitable for packaging applications. At the same time, the application of essential oils (EOs) with antimicrobial activity in biodegradable films has shown potential for postharvest fruit preservation. The essential oil of Lippia sidoides (commonly known as Alecrim-Pimenta) stands out for its effectiveness against fungi such as Rhizopus sp., a known cause of rot in strawberries. Aiming to develop active packaging for strawberries, this project proposes developing and characterizing biodegradable cassava starch-based films, modified with CaCl2 and incorporated with Alecrim-Pimenta essential oil.