Microfluidics in Intelligent Fresh Produce Preservation and Detection: From Precision Sensing to Active Delivery Systems

Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables account for approximately one-third of global production, threatening health and sustainability. While conventional preservation methods are often resource-intensive and lack real-time precision, microfluidic technology offers a transformative and intelligent approach due to its miniaturization, integration, and high throughput. This review systematically introduces two core functionalities of microfluidic technology in fruit and vegetable preservation. First, it serves as a highly sensitive sensing platform for rapid and in situ detection of spoilage microorganisms, physiological metabolic biomarkers, and pesticide residues. And second, as a precision delivery system, it can also be used to fabricate intelligent carriers for the controlled release. Microfluidic technology shifts preservation toward digital and precise management by offering both rapid detection and controllable delivery capabilities. Despite challenges like manufacturing economics and integration complexity, future convergence with novel materials and artificial intelligence holds great promise for advancing postharvest quality control.