Presented are compositions that can be used as protective coatings for agricultural (e.g., food) substrates. The compositions can comprise a compound of Formula I:

##STR00001##

and an additive, wherein the variables m, n, q, r, R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 are defined herein. The protective coatings formed from the compositions can be used to prevent food spoilage due to, for instance, moisture loss, oxidation, or infection by a foreign pathogen.

Presented are compositions that can be used as protective coatings for agricultural (e.g., food) substrates. The compositions can comprise a compound of Formula I:

##STR00001##

and an additive, wherein the variables m, n, q, r, R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 are defined herein. The protective coatings formed from the compositions can be used to prevent food spoilage due to, for instance, moisture loss, oxidation, or infection by a foreign pathogen.

Modifiers containing an emulsifier and an oil or fat, wherein the emulsifier contains one or more members selected from the group consisting of a monoester of a fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and glycerol, a monoester of a fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and sorbitan, a monoester of a fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and a oolyalycerol with an average degree of polymerization of 2 to 5, and a monoester of a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and propylene glycol, can sufficiently improve the freezing property of cooked rice during rapid freezing so that the rice grains are frozen separately from each other.

Modifiers containing an emulsifier and an oil or fat, wherein the emulsifier contains one or more members selected from the group consisting of a monoester of a fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and glycerol, a monoester of a fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and sorbitan, a monoester of a fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and a oolyalycerol with an average degree of polymerization of 2 to 5, and a monoester of a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and propylene glycol, can sufficiently improve the freezing property of cooked rice during rapid freezing so that the rice grains are frozen separately from each other.

A seed treater includes a baffle which includes a fin that is selectively movable to adjust an extent to which the fin extends into a mixing chamber during mixing of seeds and a seed treatment within the mixing chamber to facilitate mixing of the seeds and the seed treatment within the mixing chamber. The fin defines an internal flow passage configured to deliver forced fluid through the fin and into the mixing chamber.

A composition comprising hydroxyalkyl starch having an amylose content of at least 30 wt% and the weight average molar mass in the range of about 10.sup.5 - 10.sup.8 g/mol, a salt which is selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal salt and/or alkaline earth metal salt, and water. The preferably viscous formulation is especially suitable in the field of agriculture, horticulture and forestry to increase plant production efficiency by forming a film which reduces the wash-off of plant protection products, stimulants and fertilizers, or reduces erosion by soil bonding and dust formation in seed coating and animal husbandry. Furthermore, the formulation is applicable as replacer of synthetic polymers in cosmetics and personal care products.

A composition comprising hydroxyalkyl starch having an amylose content of at least 30 wt% and the weight average molar mass in the range of about 10.sup.5 - 10.sup.8 g/mol, a salt which is selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal salt and/or alkaline earth metal salt, and water. The preferably viscous formulation is especially suitable in the field of agriculture, horticulture and forestry to increase plant production efficiency by forming a film which reduces the wash-off of plant protection products, stimulants and fertilizers, or reduces erosion by soil bonding and dust formation in seed coating and animal husbandry. Furthermore, the formulation is applicable as replacer of synthetic polymers in cosmetics and personal care products.

The present invention concerns a composition based on a mucous secretion of gastropods, preferably snail slime. In addition, this invention concerns a film or edible film obtained/obtainable with this composition and its use in the food industry, preferably to conserve, preserve or store food.

The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for improving storage and/or transportation of food, flowers, plants, or the like.

A method of forming a material structure from structural units contained within a liquid solution in a spray head is described. The liquid solution includes a solvent and a solute, the solute comprising a plurality of the structural units, the structural units including monomer units, oligomer units, or combinations thereof. The method comprises forming droplets of the liquid solution including the structural units, and spraying the droplets on a substrate, thereby substantially increasing the reactivity of the structural units within the droplets relative to the structural units within the liquid solution in the spray head. The increase in reactivity can result from the droplets containing an excess of a particular ion, the ion excess resulting from a voltage applied to conductive walls of the device which dispenses the droplets. The material structure is then formed on the substrate from the more highly reactive structural units within the droplets.