The production of blueberries has been increasing in the fields of our country for several years, according to estimates of the Blueberry Committee, a total of 111.550 tons are projected for this season, which represents 2% more than the previous season.

For this reason, Javier Dueñas (27), graduate of Industrial design from the Catholic University of Temuco, is developing - with the support of the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA) - an innovative ergonomic tool that reduces the loss of fruit during Harvest; improves the working conditions of seasonal workers in the capture of blueberries; and helps prevent the spread of coronavirus in the fields.

“I looked at the problems that blueberry producers have, since at the national level, about 25% of the fruit is lost in the harvest, equivalent to 162 million dollars. In addition, a 30% increase in seasonal production has been achieved in the work of harvesting the fruit, ”says Javier Dueñas.

Design at the service of agriculture

The ergonomic tool seeks to avoid the use of a tray hanging around the neck, a common practice in fruit harvesting. The design under the principles of adjustable intervals allows to be regulated by each user, being a user-friendly instrument with the temporary, since it is for personal use. "It is installed on the user's arm, giving it an extension that prevents the fruit from falling to the ground during extraction," says Dueñas.

Dueñas also details that the receptacle allows the seasonal worker to harvest and accumulate approximately 1 kilogram of blueberries, thus maintaining the quality parameters of the fruit, such as taking care of pruine and preventing the fruit from being bruised, or with the presence of mechanical damage. , avoiding open wounds. The young man adds that with holes in their base, they improve the ventilation of the fruit, preventing it from suffering from heat stroke.

Along these lines, the executive director of FIA, Álvaro Eyzaguirre, stated that “through the Young Innovators Call, the Foundation has cultivated the relationship between agriculture and different disciplines that allow visualizing opportunities for improvement in the sector; voids that have a social impact focused on the permanent work of the most rural areas of our country ”.

Innovation

Currently, the receptacle has been used by small blueberry producers in the Biobío region, obtaining good results, which has allowed it to show a considerable decrease in the loss of the fruit during its capture. In addition, its adjustable and ergonomic design has been well regarded by seasonal workers, increasing speed in harvesting and giving them greater maneuverability in the fields.

Viviana Catalán (55) lives in the city of Los Angeles and has had a blueberry orchard for more than 11 years. Hectares that Javier has visited for two years to test his tool with the 20 seasonal fruit pickers who usually work with Viviana seasonally. “The reception has been positive because the fruit that is being harvested remains inside the basket; And without that, usually the blueberry falls in a continuous stream. The tool to work has the grace that the person has it in the arm, it is very practical and light ”adds Catalán.

Tool to prevent Covid-19 in harvest

The coronavirus undoubtedly came to revolutionize the whole world and agricultural work is not exempt, which is why farmers have had to modify their tasks in the field, to comply with the sanitary protocol and incorporate post-care tools and protection of workers.

In this regard, Javier Dueñas indicates that he hopes to include copper particles in the prototype, in order to provide greater safety against Covid 19 and other diseases. Being a safer instrument for temps and for the same fruit.