We are testing alternative methods to effectively store and protect green coffee beans from mold using silica gel and natural clay.
Project Type
- Experimentation
THE PROBLEM
Coffee farmers typically store their green coffee beans in plastic gunny sacks with an inner plastic lining, inside a storage room that has no temperature or humidity control. As coffee is mostly grown in high altitude and humid areas, the traditional storage method is prone to mold, which can lower the quality of the coffee beans. Therefore, an effective storage method is needed to maintain high-quality coffee beans.
THE SOLUTION
Kopernik will test the use of silica gel and natural clay (absorbent agents) in storing green coffee beans and protecting the beans from mold. The experiment will compare the effectiveness of both absorbent agents in preserving the quality of the coffee beans.
THE EXPECTED IMPACT
Improved storage methods using silica gel or natural clay can help coffee farmers in storing their green beans more effectively, and free from mold.
THE PROJECT RESULT
Our results showed that hermetic bags were highly effective in maintaining stable moisture levels. Desiccants were less effective at lowering moisture, yet significantly reduced relative humidity (RH), particularly when used with plastic bags. Both hermetic bags and desiccants effectively lowered RH, but neither had a significant impact on internal temperature.
For further information, visit our Solutions Catalog for in-house and field experiments.
PROJECT COST
Type
Description
Amount
Solution & Project Implementation
Costs associated with the purchase of the solutions tested and project coordination
$1,006
Monitoring & Evaluation
Costs associated with data collection, analysis and reporting
$142
Administration Fee
Cost of transferring payments internationally, processing online donations (5%) and a contribution to Kopernik's operational costs (15%)
$115
Total $1,263
This project is implemented by Yayasan Kopernik on behalf of our partner who provided grant funding for this project.
