Tropical Agro Drives Scalable Shelf-Life Innovation to Combat Harvest Loss Expands Reach of SmartFresh™ InBox, a Revolutionary AgroFresh Technology, Across India
Chennai, Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt. Ltd., a leading player in India’s crop protection and plant nutrition sector, is expanding the reach of SmartFresh™ InBox, a revolutionary post-harvest solution from AgroFresh Inc., USA. The partnership aims to address one of the most pressing challenges in Indian agriculture—post-harvest loss—by enhancing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables during storage and transportation.
With over 30% of fruits and vegetables wasted annually in India before they reach consumers, SmartFresh™ InBox directly addresses this critical issue. The technology offers on-the-go protection for packed fresh produce during transport. It extends freshness and reduces post-harvest losses. The innovation is powered by 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a plant growth regulator that delays ripening and slows the aging process by blocking the effects of ethylene—a natural hormone that accelerates fruit softening and spoilage. Tropical Agro is currently the only company in India with registration to use 1-MCP.
Designed for simplicity and flexibility, SmartFresh™ InBox comes in easy-to-use sachets that are placed directly into produce boxes—at storage in farmers backyard, controlled atmospheric stores, port, or during transit. This eliminates waiting periods and allows immediate movement of produce, reducing delays and minimizing food waste.
In India, SmartFresh™ InBox is approved for apples, with promising trials underway for a range of fruits and vegetables. Globally, including in the U.S., the technology has been successfully used on crops such as apples, pears, plums, kiwifruit, tomatoes, broccoli, cantaloupes, melons, and watermelons. In addition, it has shown effectiveness on grapes, guava, sapota, pomegranate, and custard apples.
Beyond extending shelf life, SmartFresh™ InBox offers operational advantages—it reduces reliance on cold storage, optimizes space utilization, and supports sustainability goals by lowering energy consumption and carbon emissions.
The technology aligns seamlessly with Tropical Agro’s broader sustainability mission and its focus on stakeholder prosperity. Its rollout in India builds on the success of the company’s #SawalKalKaHai campaign, which advocates for environmentally responsible farming and conscious consumer choices.
The partnership between Tropical Agro and AgroFresh Inc., USA brings together two companies united by a strong commitment to sustainability. As part of the collaboration, Tropical Agro will bring a range of innovative solutions from AgroFresh Inc., USA to the Indian market.
“We are proud to bring SmartFresh™ InBox to India at a time when reducing food waste is critical. This partnership with AgroFresh empowers our farmers and the agri-supply chain with a reliable, scalable freshness solution to help optimise resources and maximise returns,” said K. Venkatasubramanian, General Manager – Post Harvest Business, Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt. Ltd.
“India is a key market for AgroFresh Inc., USA, and we are excited to partner with Tropical Agrosystem India Pvt. Ltd. to bring our proven post-harvest technologies to farmers and supply chain players across the country. With their extensive reach and commitment to farmer empowerment, SmartFresh™ InBox is poised for great success here,” said Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Kundu, Account Manager – AgroFresh Inc., USA in India.
SmartFresh™ InBox is available in packs of 250 sachets, with two dosage variants—0.625 grams and 1.25 grams—catering to different produce volumes and handling needs.
