Análisis de la tecnología DECCO (Naturcover+Fullcover) en aguacate Hass tipo exportación hacia Europa y Asia

Abstract

Colombian Hass avocado faces significant postharvest challenges due to strict phytosanitary and quality standards required by European and Asian markets, combined with transit times exceeding 40 days. This study aimed to implement DECCO technology (Naturcover + Fullcover) in export-grade Hass avocado, evaluating its efficiency across three dimensions: the application process, the physical characteristics of the fruit, and postharvest costs. An experimental design with mixed data collection was used, applied to 10 metric tons of fruit processed in one day at a packing facility, with a sample of 5 metric tons. Three treatments were evaluated: Naturcover coating applied with the Fullcover electrostatic system, thiabendazol fungicide (TBZ), and an untreated control group, measured at 0, 7, 15, 25, and 40 days under refrigerated conditions simulating container transit. Results showed that Naturcover significantly reduced weight loss and preserved color uniformity in the fruit, extending its postharvest shelf life without affecting organoleptic properties. Thiabendazol outperformed other treatments in controlling fungal diseases such as anthracnose and stem-end rot. The Fullcover electrostatic system improved coverage and application efficiency while minimizing water consumption. The Activity-Based Costing (ABC) analysis identified three main postharvest cost components: labor, chemical inputs, and refrigerated transport logistics, with the latter having the greatest economic impact. It is concluded that an integrated strategy combining Naturcover with a broad-spectrum fungicide represents the most competitive alternative for positioning Colombian Hass avocado in international markets.