It is believed that about one third of the food produced annually in the world for human consumption goes to waste.
The problem could be solved with the coming of this new technique developed by scientists from China. This new technology will make perishable food which provide important dietary nutrients last longer.
According to a researchers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Plasma - an ionised gas consisting of positive ions and free electrons - could increase the life of perishable food by killing off bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli.
The team of researchers used a kind of plasma which is already being adopted by the doctors in hospitals as a new solution to extending the shelf life of fruit.
In a medical setting, it has been used for applications including disinfection and wound healing; its potential has also been recognized by the food industry.
Researchers used this technology to eliminate biofilm, a layer of bacteria and other microorganisms on a food's surface which causes it to deteriorate.
The early test was done on apples and the results revealed that by using plasma, they could extend the shelf-life of a fruit from a few days "up to several weeks."
