Systems and methods for treating large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a crop storage facility configured in accordance with the present technology includes a treatment system configured to distribute a treatment agent configured to inhibit spoilage of the crops. The treatment system can include a combination of two or more chemical compositions configured to release different concentrations of the treatment agent to produce a desired level of the treatment agent in the storage facility.

Systems and methods for treating large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a crop storage facility configured in accordance with the present technology includes a treatment system configured to distribute a treatment agent configured to inhibit spoilage of the crops. The treatment system can include a combination of two or more chemical compositions configured to release different concentrations of the treatment agent to produce a desired level of the treatment agent in the storage facility.

A sterilization apparatus characterized in that the sterilization apparatus comprises a reactive oxygen species irradiation unit for irradiating a reactive oxygen species-containing gas which is a reaction product of plasma generated using an alternating current and a water-containing gas containing steam, the sterilization apparatus further containing an inlet unit for steam flow for supplying the water-containing gas heated to a temperature of from 50 to 300 C., wherein the reactive oxygen species-containing gas contains water in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of saturated steam. The sterilization apparatus of the present invention shows excellent sterilization activity, so that it can be suitably used in sterilization of containers for foodstuff, bottle caps sealing the openings of the containers, medical devices, foodstuff such as vegetables and meat, and the like.

The process includes a treatment step during which a liquid containing a biocidal and/or plant-protection product or a mixture of biocidal and/or plant-protection products is evaporated and injected into the internal atmosphere of premises, the liquid being evaporates at a temperature of less than 50 C., the product vapour concentration in the internal atmosphere of the premises being kept at greater than 10% of a saturation concentration of the vapour of said product in said atmosphere at said temperature for a saturation duration of greater than 12 hours.

A sterilization system may include an ozone generator, a buffer chamber, an ozone concentration monitor or cuvette, a treatment chamber, one or more valves, and a controller. The ozone generator generates a flow of ozone. The buffer chamber stores the flow of ozone. The ozone cuvette monitors a concentration of ozone from the buffer chamber. The treatment chamber receives a material for sterilization, and receives a flow of air/ozone. The controller selectively and independently controls each of the valves. The sterilization system including first and second operating modes. In the first operating mode, the treatment chamber is isolated from the ozone generator and the buffer chamber such that ozone is not being supplied to the treatment chamber. In the second operating mode, the treatment chamber is in communication with the ozone generator and the buffer chamber such that ozone is being supplied to the treatment chamber.

A method for sanitizing pre-measured units of a pre-sanitized flowable food product in a sanitizing device installed into an existing food production system without substantially increasing the head height requirement of the feed production system. A plurality of containers are moved about a path with increased retention time through a plurality of stations: a receiving station, one or more sanitizing stations, and a dispensing station, and a container cleaning station. A pre-measured unit measured for packaging is received at the receiving station into a container. The pre-measured unit is exposed to one or more sanitizing agents at one or more sanitizing stations. The pre-measured unit is immediately packaged after sanitization. The pre-measured unit is dispensed into a packaging device at the dispensing station. The containers are then cleaned at the container cleaning station to prepare each container to receive a subsequent pre-measured unit of the pre-sanitized flowable feed product.

A chamber can be a pathogen control device, which can include a body having at least one internal wall defining an internal chamber, and a layer of a two dimensional material on at least a portion of the at least one internal wall. The two-dimensional material can have at least one edge protruding from the at least one internal wall. A pathogen control system can include the chamber and at least one pressure source operably coupled with an inlet of the internal chamber, and optionally include a depressurization vessel. A method of processing a fluid, such as for controlling pathogens, can include providing the chamber, and flowing a fluid with or without pressurized carbon dioxide or processing fluid through the internal chamber of the chamber to contact an edge of the two-dimensional material. The flow through the chamber can be conducted until at least one pathogen is controlled.

An agricultural system for generating food and fuel products includes an arrangement for supplying grain, wherein the agricultural system includes a hydroponics arrangement for receiving the supplied grain and for germinating and growing the supplied grain in a light-excluded environment in one or more hydroponics trays to generate plant growth material, and a harvesting arrangement for receiving the plant growth material and processing the plant growth material to generate corresponding livestock feed. The hydroponics arrangement includes a gaseous fumigation arrangement for gaseously fumigating the supplied grain during growing of the grain in the light-excluded environment. The gaseous fumigation arrangement is operable to employ ozone gas for fumigating the supplied grain to reduce growth of mould in the plant growth material.

Technologies for providing a gas inlet and gas outlet to a compartment are described. In embodiments, the technologies include a dual channel connector unit that includes an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway. In embodiments at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway. The connector unit is configured to install into a portion (e.g., wall, bottom, top, or lid) of a compartment. Systems and methods including such connector units are also described.

Methods of manufacturing a light-activated powder are provided which provide solid-state generation and release of chlorine dioxide without detectable amounts of any toxic by-products such as chlorine gas, chlorites, or chlorates. The powder need not be exposed to moisture, relative humidity, or an acid before or during exposure of the powder to visible light to generate the gas. The powder can also be prepared under conditions that minimize or prevent decomposition or oxidation of sodium chlorite or premature light activation of the powder during the manufacturing process to maximize its activity.