By Bl Mangaluru Bureau
Copyright thehindubusinessline
Chennai-based Tropical Agrosystem (India) Ltd, a crop management company, on Tuesday announced a farm-tech suite that leverages data analytics and advanced technology to minimise post-harvest fruit losses, preserve product quality, and boost farmer incomes.
In a partnership with AgroFresh Solutions Inc, a global leader in post-harvest freshness and quality solutions, Tropical Agro is bringing two innovations – Strella and Rubens – to the Indian market.
A media statement said that Tropical Agro is rolling out Strella and Rubens, both integrated with AgroFresh’s FreshCloud, a digital platform that captures real-time data to inform better post-harvest decisions of produce condition from orchard to pack-house, shipping and beyond across the supply chain.
Tracking maturity
Developed by AgroFresh, Strella uses wireless sensors to monitor ethylene (a natural ripening agent emitted by fruits), CO2 and O2, temperature and humidity in real time. These sensors are deployed in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage rooms to track fruit maturity. CA stores can access live, data-backed recommendations through FreshCloud to optimise storage decisions, reduce waste, and enhance fruit marketability.
Developed by Australian agri-tech firm Rubens Technologies, Rubens, a handheld spectral scanner, allows farmers to assess fruit maturity non-destructively right in the orchard. It measures indicators such as brix, firmness, and starch levels to determine the optimal harvest window. At the pack-house / CA stores, Rubens also aids in quality control, syncing results to FreshCloud Inspection within seconds, enabling traceability and data-driven decision-making.
The statement said that both technologies will initially be available for apples and pears with plans to expand to other fruits and vegetables in the future. In India, Strella and Rubens will be offered under a subscription-based model.
Cutting post-harvest losses
Quoting VK Jhaver, Founder of Tropical Agrosystem (India) Ltd, the statement said: “Tropical Agro sees significant growth potential in India’s post-harvest segment, which will remain a key strategic focus for the company. Given the complexities of India’s supply chain and the resulting food wastage, Strella and Rubens offer ideal solutions to reduce post-harvest losses, maintain product quality, and improve grower profitability. We look forward to introducing more such innovations in the future.”
K Venkatasubramanian, General Manager – Post Harvest Business, Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt Ltd, said: “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering sustainable, tech-driven solutions that benefit the entire agri value chain from farm to consumer. Our focus is on reducing post-harvest losses, particularly in apples, preserving quality, and enabling smarter, data-led decision-making across the agricultural ecosystem.”
Published on September 23, 2025
