Models adopted for commercializing new postharvest technology for minimizing postharvest loss of fruits in Sri Lanka R.S. Wilson Wijeratnam 1 , K. Fernando 2 and I.G.N. Hewajulige 1 1 Industrial Technology Institute, 363, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka; 2 Centre for Poverty Analysis, 29, R.G. Senanayake Road, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Abstract Three new technologies were developed/adapted by members of the project team at the Industrial Technology Institute, as part of an international collaborative research programme funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, for “Enhancing Preservation of Fruits using Nano Technology”. The technologies included a) the postharvest application of two new wax formulations for maintaining fruit quality and extending storage life, b) a pre-harvest spray treatment for retention of fruits on trees to stretch the harvest season and extend the period of availability of mango, c) a banana fibre- based fruit wrap to maintain quality of fruits during storage and transportation. The models adopted for commercialization of the technologies included interaction with both home garden producers of fruits and large scale growers, together with a large scale distributor/manufacturer of agrochemicals, a medium scale processor of banana fibre and a banana growers, producers and processors co-operative. The models were chosen so as to ensure that the benefits of the technology would contribute to income generation, employment opportunities for women and better returns for farmers while contributing to overall food security in rural communities. The focus of this paper is on the experience of implementing the different models for technology transfer, the challenges faced, and the impact and lessons learnt. Keywords: preharvest, spray treatment, bio wax, banana, fibre-based fruit wrap, commercialization models, new technology INTRODUCTION Sri Lanka produces many tropical fruits. However, postharvest losses remain high at close to 30-40% of the harvested crop (Champa, 2017). It is also noted that much is to be desired in nutrition levels, in both the urban and rural Sri Lankan population as diets are known to fall short of approved nutrition recommendations. The loss of food along the supply chain and the subsequent loss of valuable nutritional resources to the population are thus concerns for Sri Lanka at present. The Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) invests in scaling up solutions that increase production, access, and consumption of safe and nutritious food. Jointly funded by IDRC and Global Affairs Canada, CIFSRF addresses the critical challenge of global hunger. The international collaborative project for “Enhancing the Preservation of fruits using Nano technology” funded by the CIFSRF programme, provided the opportunity for a research team at the Industrial Technology Institute, Sri Lanka to address this problem, with respect to conditions prevailing in Sri Lanka, while sharing and benefiting from expertise and experience from project partners from the University of Guelph, Canada, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, the University of Nairobi, Kenya, The University of the West Indies and Sokoine University, Tanzania. Commercialization is one of the primary mechanisms for implementing technological solutions but offers several challenges. This paper discusses the processes by which the commercialization of the new technologies was achieved within the targeted timeframe of the project and describes key lessons learned. Acta Hortic. 1201. ISHS 2018. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1201.24 VII Int. Conf. on Managing Quality in Chains & II Int. Symp. on Ornamentals in association with XIII Int. Protea Research Symp. Eds.: U.L. Opara and E.W. Hoffman 177