Long-term storage of flour products requires constant monitoring to safeguard quality and prevent infestation by insects, mould development and microbiological spoilage. With the MASSNOX project, the objective was to develop a conditioning and monitoring system for reliable flour storage in a new generation of reusable, modified atmosphere big bags.

The idea was to enable real-time monitoring of the concentration of gas inside the big bags during storage. This is key to safe storage as gas concentrations may vary, even inside hermetically sealed bags.

A Proof of Concept of the proposed device has demonstrated the feasibility and validated the assumptions made as to its reliability and the possibility of using the data collected. The goal of the project was achieved. The next step for MASSNOX is to build a prototype to test in operational conditions.

NOX has developed the big bags that has been used in the project and has drawn on the support of LAAS-CNRS, Insecto-Net IAA, HEC Incubator and MIT.

Final report summary
The project mission was to develop a connected multi-sensor device for installation in the NOX storage bags. After establishing the context for use, a minimum viable product (MVP) model was developed as a tool for testing the project’s hypotheses. Technological choices were then made and the project’s architecture determined with regard to information storage, user rights and interface and data processing.

A prototype was then produced for testing in real conditions inside one of the bags. The data gathered by the sensor was used to assess the quality of the flour in storage. This ended with the validation of the prototype. Work is ongoing to take the project to a larger scale with a more advanced technical level.

Once fully developed, the MASSNOX project will be the first integrated storage solution for high value flour products based on modified atmosphere storage.