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Active and Intelligent Packaging for Food and Agricultural Applications

Panuwat Suppakul Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900 Phone +66 2562 5058, Fax +66 2562 5046, E-Mail: fagipas@ku.ac.th

Keywords: Food Packaging; Active and Intelligent Packaging; Smart Packaging.

Abstract Consumer demand for mildly preserved, minimally processed, easily prepared and

ready-to-eat “fresher” foods–together with retail and distribution practices related to the globalization, new consumer product logistics, new distribution trends (e.g. internet shopping), automatic handling systems at distribution centers, and the stricter requirements regarding consumer health–pose major challenges for agricultural and food quality and safety. In response to these dynamic changes in current consumer demand and market trends, the area of active and intelligent packaging (AIP) is becoming increasingly significant. Active and intelligent packaging can enhance the protection and the communication and information function of packaging, respectively. Principal active packaging systems include those that involve oxygen scavenging (OS), moisture regulating (MR), carbon dioxide generating (CG), carbon dioxide scavenging (CS), ethylene scavenging (ES), ethylene blocking (EB), antimicrobial packaging (AMP), antioxidant packaging (AOP), and insect repellent packaging (IRP) as well as thermally equilibrious modified atmosphere packaging (TEMAP). The latest advances in IP systems include integrity indicator (II), freshness indicator (FI), time-temperature indicator (TTI) and radio frequency identification (RFID). As emerging technology, AIP has been of increasing interested in Thailand. According to the National Science and Technology Strategic Plan (20042013), AIP technology has been considered as materials technology in core technologies in the food and agricultural cluster. This emerging technology must be carefully consideration by key players and supporters in order to expedite AIP technology as one of major technologies in the country’s creative economy. This will help to raise Thailand’s packaging industry to the next level on a par with other developed countries.

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