Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) Bags

Product Description

The Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) bags are high density, hermetic polyethylene bags, with ultra-thick walls of 80 microns, intended to maintain the viability of cowpeas for planting, minimize mold growth and accumulation of mycotoxins and control storage insect pests, thereby enabling farmers to store their grains without the use of insecticides.

The PICS projects (PICS2 and PICS3) carried out research to explore the usefulness and value of PICS bags of crops including maize, sorghum, wheat, rice, peanut, common bean, hibiscus seed, mung bean, pigeon pea and bambara groundnut.

Target SDGs

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 1: No Poverty

Market Suggested Retail Price

$4.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Purdue University in partnership with manufacturers private entrepreneurs and vendors.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include ZeroFly Storage Bag.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Mass produced. PICS project staff members currently work with several African-based plastic manufacturers to produce PICS triple-layer bags. ^{Interview with representative.}

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

African entrepreneurs and rural communities are starting new businesses focused on purchasing the PICS bags from manufacturers and selling them to farmers through their retail networks. Farmers can buy it from manufacturers and local businesses, approved vendors in 50kg and 100kg capacity sizes at a cost between $2 and $4 USD. Available at market price, depending on the region.

Distributions to Date Status

In 5 years, more than 2.4 million PICS bags were sold in West and Central Africa.

Materials of construction

High density polyethylene PICS bags, with ultra-thick walls of 80 micron

Grain storage duration

~3 months

Holding Temperature (°C)

Unknown.

Protection from insect entry

Yes

Storage capacity (kg)

50-100

Temperature control

N/A

Design Specifications

Triple layered storage bags made of high density polyethylene, with ultra-thick 80 micron walls.
PICS were originally designed for storage of cowpeas, an African staple, specifically.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Available in the form of an instruction manual

Replacement Components

N/A.

Lifecycle

PICS bags are used and reused to store cowpeas up to 4 consecutive years. ^{Interview with representative}

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Performance targets: ^{Interview with representative}

PICS bags can be used and reused to store cowpeas for up to 4 consecutive years and reduce loss of cowpeas grain to insect infestation.
Once PICS bags are no longer fit to store cowpeas, they are used for other purposes.
Reused PICS bags reduce the cost of storage for small-scale.
Using damaged PICS bags for other purposes reduces the environmental impact.

Vetted Performance Status

Physical activity and reproduction of bruchids in PICS bags ceases due to hypoxia.

Hypoxia is due to insect metabolism and oxygen barriers presented by the bag walls. Oxygen deprivation deprives the bruchids of their most important source of water. PICS bags are used and reused to store cowpea up to four consecutive years. Once PICS bags are no longer fit to store cowpea, they are used for other purposes.
Storage of conventional farmer cassava chips in PICS Bags was only successful till 4 months not beyond. Losses in PICS bags exceeded 8% after 6 months of storage. PICS bags prolong only the storage of chips by approximately 1 month. Chips size did not allowed oxygen reduction in PICS bags leading to hermetic conditions

Research findings on economic viability and effectiveness of PICS bags with respect to crops beyond cowpea.

Safety

Hermetic sealing is compromised by bag wall ruptures. Once PICS bags are no longer fit to store cowpea, they can be used for other purposes.

Complementary Technical Systems

Unknown.

Academic Research and References

Available [online] at: http://www.entm.purdue.edu/PICS3/journal_articles.php