Agriculture
January 11, 2024
Cleanbodia Bio Bags
Read SolutionImplemented by
Cleanbodia
Updated on January 5, 2024
·Created on August 27, 2015
The PICS bag is a cost-effective, triple-layer hermetic storage bag which permits farmers to store their grains without the use of insecticide thus providing them healthy, clean food that can be stored for longer.
The Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) bags are high density, hermetic polyethylene bags, with ultra-thick walls of 80 microns, intended to maintain the viability of cowpeas for planting, minimize mold growth and accumulation of mycotoxins and control storage insect pests, thereby enabling farmers to store their grains without the use of insecticides.
The PICS projects (PICS2 and PICS3) carried out research to explore the usefulness and value of PICS bags of crops including maize, sorghum, wheat, rice, peanut, common bean, hibiscus seed, mung bean, pigeon pea and bambara groundnut.
Target SDGs
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 1: No Poverty
Market Suggested Retail Price
$4.00
Target Users (Target Impact Group)
Household, Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Distributors / Implementing Organizations
Purdue University in partnership with manufacturers private entrepreneurs and vendors.
Competitive Landscape
Direct competitors include ZeroFly Storage Bag.
Manufacturing/Building Method
Mass produced. PICS project staff members currently work with several African-based plastic manufacturers to produce PICS triple-layer bags. Interview with representative.
Intellectural Property Type
Trademark
User Provision Model
African entrepreneurs and rural communities are starting new businesses focused on purchasing the PICS bags from manufacturers and selling them to farmers through their retail networks. Farmers can buy it from manufacturers and local businesses, approved vendors in 50kg and 100kg capacity sizes at a cost between $2 and $4 USD. Available at market price, depending on the region.
Distributions to Date Status
In 5 years, more than 2.4 million PICS bags were sold in West and Central Africa.
Materials of construction
High density polyethylene PICS bags, with ultra-thick walls of 80 micron
Grain storage duration
~3 months
Holding Temperature (°C)
Unknown.
Protection from insect entry
Yes
Storage capacity (kg)
50-100
Temperature control
N/A
Design Specifications
Technical Support
Available in the form of an instruction manual
Replacement Components
N/A.
Lifecycle
PICS bags are used and reused to store cowpeas up to 4 consecutive years. Interview with representative
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
Performance targets: Interview with representative
Vetted Performance Status
Physical activity and reproduction of bruchids in PICS bags ceases due to hypoxia.
Safety
Hermetic sealing is compromised by bag wall ruptures. Once PICS bags are no longer fit to store cowpea, they can be used for other purposes.
Complementary Technical Systems
Unknown.
Academic Research and References
Available [online] at: http://www.entm.purdue.edu/PICS3/journal_articles.php
Compliance with regulations
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