FLANDERS CENTRE OF POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY

The Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology (VCBT) works on research and advisory service on postharvest topics of fruit and vegetables: optimal storage conditions, construction of storage rooms, packaging of fruit and vegetables, non destructive quality measurements of fruit and vegetables.
Since 2004 the VCBT is officially recognised as experimental station.
VCBT has a ISO 17025 accreditation for quality measurements on fruits and vegetables and a certification for Good Experimental Practices (GEP).

VISION

Postharvest technologies from VCBT underpin the strong presence of premium Flemish horticultural brands in the highest returning global markets.

MISSION

The non-profit organisation Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology (VCBT) has been established in 1997 as a collaborative project between the Association of Belgian Fruit and Vegetable Auctions and the University of Leuven. Its mission is to deliver postharvest science, technology and consultancy to create more value for the Flemish horticultural industry.

ACTIVITIES

The VCBT closely collaborates with the division BIOSYST-MeBioS of the University of Leuven which carries out fundamental research related to storage and quality of horticultural produce. As both groups are housed in the same building, the conditions are ideal for mental cross-fertilisation between university researchers and those of the VCBT. Further, the VCBT closely collaborates with all other experimental stations in Belgium and with research groups all over the world.

Applied and basic research
To support the technology consultancy and extension services of the VCBT, both applied and basic research is carried out.  The research aims at applying advanced engineering techniques to improve the storage life and quality of fresh fruit and vegetables by means of appropriate storage technologies and supply chain management.

Applied research is focussed on the solution of problems related to storage or quality of fresh fruit and vegetables on a short or intermediate time horizon.

Basic research aims at improving our understanding of the metabolic processes of fruit and vegetables during storage, and developing new methodologies to measure and monitor postharvest quality changes.

CONTACT

Bart Nicolaï
Director at Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, bart.nicolai@kuleuven.be

Ann Schenk
Research and extension in fruit and vegetable storage, ann.schenk@vcbt.be

SERVICES

Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology (VCBT) works on research and advisory service on postharvest topics of fruit and vegetables: optimal storage conditions, construction of storage rooms, packaging of fruit and vegetables, non destructive quality measurements of fruit and vegetables.