Treated jute bags boost grain storage and other green goals

Summary

KAUST researchers have developed a surface treatment for jute storage bags to prevent moisture-induced damage to stored grains. The treatment involves roughening the jute surface with an alkali and applying a thin layer of paraffin wax. Experiments showed that seed moisture content reduced by up to 7.5 percent in wax-coated bags, and seed germination efficacy after storage was up to 35 percent higher. Why it matters: This simple, scalable technique could significantly reduce grain losses in developing countries and provide an environmentally friendly alternative for grain storage.