Mobile Aseptic Processing Platforms for Decentralized Food Preservation: Engineering and Applications for Circular and Resilient Food Manufacturing

Total postharvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables in tropical and subtropical agricultural systems frequently exceed 30 percent, driven by high crop perishability, limited cold-chain infrastructure, and the geographic concentration of conventional processing facilities far from production zones. This review examines the engineering principles, operational architecture, and applied performance of mobile aseptic processing platforms (MAPPs) as a decentralized strategy for postharvest stabilization of perishable agricultural commodities. MAPPs integrate in-line homogenization, high-temperature short-time (HTST) or ultra-high-temperature (UHT) thermal treatment, clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilization-in-place (SIP) cycles, and aseptic filling within transportable, modular units engineered for field deployment. Projected MAPP capacities reach up to approximately 11,300 kg (25,000 lb) per 8 h shift, while still complying with internationally recognized food safety frameworks, including HACCP, ISO 22000, and SQF. Comparative analysis with centralized processing infrastructure and earlier decentralized initiatives, including the EU Horizon 2020 Food Processing in a Box (FOX) project, indicates that mobile aseptic systems uniquely combine field mobility with the production of ambient-stable shelf-life formats independent of refrigerated distribution. Conservative impact modeling suggests that single-unit deployments may recover on the order of 3000 t of edible product annually, with corresponding water, fertilizer, and greenhouse gas externality reductions. The review synthesizes the current state of the technology, identifies engineering and socioeconomic knowledge gaps, and proposes research priorities for scaled adoption in tropical and subtropical food systems.