The Fresh Produce Impact Hub (FRESHPPACT)

Holistic Mulch Project:

The project team is currently overseeing the Holistic Mulch Project. As of November 2024, the mulch material from coconut coir and other materials that have been experimented at Blues Skies farm in Ghana is being monitored for data collection. The team is collaborating with the Blue Skies Ghana team in their role as a key consortium member to monitor the performance of each mulch material on the farmland. As such, observations and data collection have been carried out in relation to the performance of each material.

Also as projected, the team is working to obtain a before and after (application) comparison of soil characteristics such as pH, Organic Matter, Organic Carbon, NPK, Calcium, Magnesium and trace elements.

During the July – September quarter, Coco 360 Ghana’s coconut coir mulch was monitored for performance metrics such as weed suppression and plant health, with a focus on comparing it to other mulching materials. The project team conducted an interim data collection, observing several key findings:

• Mulch Integrity and Durability: The coconut coir mulch demonstrated durability comparable to plastic mulch and outperformed the biodegradable mulch (BDM) from CSIR South Africa. Continued monitoring will determine if this durability is sustained throughout the second phase.
• Plant Growth: Plant growth in the coir mulch matched that in plastic mulch, with pineapple suckers showing broader and longer blades, which may impact fruit size. This will be closely assessed as the trial progresses.
• Early Fruiting: Early fruiting was observed in pineapples planted with both coir and plastic mulches, indicating that coir mulch can support early fruiting effectively, similar to plastic mulch.
• Weeds and Biodiversity: The coir mulch promoted a more biodiverse environment, supporting insects and microorganisms, in contrast to the more restrictive environment of plastic mulch. However, it performed slightly less well in weed control due to light penetration. Optimisation plans are being discussed with Coco360 to improve its weed suppression.

These interim observations provide valuable insights into the trial’s progress. The final trial results will provide a more comprehensive and instructive picture about the performance of coir mulch.

Sustainable Packaging (Kelpi):

In accordance with the agreed workplan, the July – September reporting period was focused on prototype refinement. Work has been ongoing around evaluating potential material composites which may be suitable for constructing a final product. Part of the work in the quarter under review involved physical testing of proposed solutions in accordance with the properties of the tested prototype that was developed in the previous reporting period. The shortlisted options were presented to the wider stakeholders to discuss potential pitfalls and focus work moving forward.

Also, during this period, they developed a cost model structure and a top-level production plan to help identify the value chain of each proposed solution. These models were used in discussions with production partners to aid engagement.