FOOD & AGRICULTURE

Reducing spoilage by sensing what others miss

Chemical sensing for freshness detection, spoilage prevention, and supply chain intelligence.

The Challenge

Chemical signals are central to food quality, ripeness, and spoilage — yet remain largely unmonitored across production, storage, and transport. By the time visible or olfactory signs of degradation appear, significant waste has already occurred, costing billions annually across global supply chains.

The Opportunity

Trace gases associated with spoilage, stress, and degradation can be detected far earlier than visual inspection allows. By monitoring these chemical decay signals continuously, producers and distributors can intervene sooner, extend shelf life, and reduce waste across the entire food system.

OUR CAPABILITY

From Farm to Shelf: Chemical Freshness Intelligence

Altered Carbon has a proven history in this sector, from early work in soft-fruit supply chains to TomatoGuard® and other crop-specific applications. Our sensors detect trace gases associated with spoilage, stress, and degradation, enabling earlier intervention and reduced waste.

The technology is applicable across food manufacturing, cold storage, logistics, and agriculture — wherever chemical change precedes visible failure.

  • Crop-specific spoilage detection
  • Real-time freshness scoring
  • Cold chain integrity monitoring
  • Ethylene and VOC tracking
  • Predictive shelf-life modelling
  • Supply chain integration APIs
TomatoGuard® Monitor
Freshness
92%
Ethylene
0.4ppm
Temperature
4.2°C
Shelf Life
6 days

Tailored solutions for specific crops and supply chains