Innovative Kodo Millet and Beetroot Extract Packaging by NIT Rourkela Team to Preserve Seafood Freshness

New Delhi, April 11 (NationPress) Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have created a smart food packaging film utilizing natural and biodegradable components, including Kodo millet starch and beetroot extract.

This film is designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by reacting to changes in pH, providing an effective solution for improving food safety and minimizing waste.

In a pioneering achievement, the research group has employed Kodo millet starch to develop a pH-sensitive intelligent film capable of accurately assessing the freshness of various seafood types.

This innovative film identifies the release of volatile amines, compounds commonly linked to spoilage, and reflects food quality through visible color transformations.

Composed of starch derived from Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum), gum tragacanth (an organic plant gum), and beetroot peel extract, which harbors pH-sensitive pigments known as betalains, this film is both biodegradable and safe.

These natural ingredients ensure that the film is sustainable and responsive, aligning with environmental objectives while providing a non-invasive method to evaluate seafood freshness.

“We extracted starch from Kodo millet by soaking, grinding, filtering, and drying the grains. The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small quantity of glycerol to create the films. These were dried and tested for pH sensitivity and efficacy in monitoring seafood freshness,” explained Prof. Preetam Sarkar from NIT.

At the laboratory scale, the estimated cost of producing the film is approximately ₹900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the anticipated cost is projected to be between ₹400 and ₹600 per kilogram, making it a potentially practical option for commercial application.

India stands as the world's second-largest fish-producing country, contributing around 8 percent of global fish output. It is also recognized as one of the top five shrimp producers worldwide, with frozen shrimp being the leading export commodity.

Given the magnitude and significance of seafood production, intelligent packaging systems that preserve food while monitoring quality are rapidly attracting global attention.

Unlike traditional packaging that merely acts as a protective barrier, this new packaging film provides visual indicators regarding the product’s condition, presenting a promising approach to enhancing food safety and reducing waste.