1. The Post-Harvest Bottleneck: The Most Overlooked Stage in Vietnam’s Agricultural Value Chain
In Vietnam, most investments focus on:
- Cultivation techniques
- Seedlings
- Fertilizers
- Farming technology
However, post-harvest infrastructure receives disproportionately little investment—despite accounting for up to 25–45% of total losses (depending on crop type).
Key weaknesses include:
- Limited cold storage capacity
- Outdated storage technology
- Lack of standardized grading and sorting
- Weak logistics for long-distance and long-duration transport
- Inconsistent quality control for export shipments
As a result, even high-quality harvests often:
- Spoil during transportation
- Lose moisture and firmness
- Suffer from mold, soft rot, and over-ripening
- Fail to pass export quality requirements
- Lose value during storage and distribution
Without adequate post-harvest momentum, Vietnam’s agriculture remains stuck in a cycle: “good harvest – oversupply – price crash – emergency rescue.”
2. Why Cold Storage Alone Is No Longer Enough
Traditional cold storage slows down physical spoilage but does not control respiration, the key cause of aging and nutrient loss in fresh produce.
Fresh fruits and vegetables continue to breathe after harvest.
High respiration rates lead to:
- Rapid ripening
- Ethylene sensitivity
- Moisture loss
- Nutrient degradation
- Short shelf life
Cold storage reduces respiration partially, but not enough—especially for long-distance exports (Japan, EU) or long storage cycles (30–90 days).
Moreover, cold storage cannot:
- Inactivate microorganisms effectively
- Reduce ethylene concentrations
- Control oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
- Create uniform conditions across large storage volumes
Therefore, the industry’s reliance on cold storage has reached its limit.
3. CASS – Controlled Atmosphere Storage System: The Missing “Momentum” to Unlock Market Value
CASS (Controlled Atmosphere Storage System) is a clean preservation technology that adjusts the atmospheric composition inside storage chambers by controlling:
- O₂ (oxygen)
- CO₂ (carbon dioxide)
- Temperature
- Humidity
By creating an optimized atmosphere, CASS reduces respiration at a much stronger level than cooling alone.
How CASS Creates Post-Harvest Momentum
1. Strong respiration suppression
By lowering O₂ and raising CO₂ to the ideal ratio for each crop, CASS slows respiration dramatically, sometimes by 40–70%, delaying ripening and senescence.
2. Inhibition of microbial growth
Although mold is anaerobic and can survive low oxygen, CASS reduces its spread and activity by altering CO₂–O₂ concentrations.
More importantly, CASS includes a continuous air-sanitizing system that eliminates airborne pathogens and reduces cross-infection risk.
3. Protection from moisture loss and texture degradation
CASS maintains optimal humidity, preventing:
- Shrinkage
- Weight loss
- Skin wrinkling
- Softening
4. Ethylene control
Ethylene accumulates in sealed spaces, accelerating ripening.
CASS continuously absorbs or neutralizes ethylene, stabilizing the produce condition.
5. Significant extension of commercial lifespan
Depending on the crop, CASS can extend storage life by 2× to 5× without chemicals.
4. How the Absence of Post-Harvest Momentum Affects Market Access
Without advanced preservation, producers face:
- Loss of premium market opportunities
- Inability to buffer stock when prices drop
- Inconsistent supply for supermarkets or exporters
- Dependence on traders and intermediaries
- Higher rejection rates from importers
- Reduced competitiveness against Thailand, China, Peru, Chile
Meanwhile, countries that control post-harvest systems dominate high-value supply chains—even with similar crop outputs.
5. Post-Harvest Momentum = Price Momentum = Profit Momentum
When equipped with technologies like CASS, producers gain:
1. Ability to sell when prices peak
Not forced to liquidate after harvest.
2. Ability to export farther and longer
Maintaining quality across 15–40 days of shipping.
3. Reduced loss rates
A 20–40% reduction in spoilage translates directly into increased profit margins.
4. Stronger brand reputation
Consistent quality = higher trust from international buyers.
5. Ability to participate in global supply chains
Retailers require standardized, reliable, long-lasting produce—not just good harvests.
CASS converts perishable goods into market-flexible goods, giving farmers and exporters control over timing, pricing, and distribution.
6. Conclusion: The Future of Vietnamese Agriculture Depends on Post-Harvest Investment
Vietnam’s agricultural products are not struggling because demand is low.
They are struggling because post-harvest infrastructure has not kept pace with production capacity.
What Vietnam needs is not more hectares, not more harvest volume—
but stronger post-harvest momentum to protect, preserve, and elevate what we already produce.
Technologies like CASS – Controlled Atmosphere Storage System represent the next critical leap, enabling:
- Reduced losses
- Higher consistency
- Access to premium markets
- Stable pricing
- Improved national competitiveness
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CÔNG TY TNHH BẢO QUẢN RAU QUẢ CASS
- Hotline/Zalo: 0931790829 – 0931780829
- Email: cass@cass.vn
- Website: cass.vn
- Fanpage: CASS – Kho bảo quản nông sản tươi bằng công nghệ CA
- Địa chỉ kho (trước sáp nhập): Lô F5, Đường số 6, KCN Hoà Bình, Huyện Thủ Thừa, Tỉnh Long An
- Địa chỉ kho (sau sáp nhập): Lô F5, Đường số 6, KCN Hoà Bình, Xã Thủ Thừa, Tỉnh Tây Ninh
