Protect bulk rice against storage insects, moisture fluctuations and quality loss with vQm Modified Atmosphere Packaging for FIBCs, sacks and pallets.
vQm Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) protects rice against quality degradation during storage and long-distance transport:
Rice may spend months in storage and transport between harvesting, drying, milling, processing, export and final consumption. Without suitable protective packaging the quality may gradually deteriorate.
Premium varieties, including jasmine, basmati and other aromatic rice, depend on the preservation of their characteristic aroma, appearance and cooking quality to maintain their commercial value.
Traditional woven polypropylene or jute sacks are widely used because they are strong, affordable and easy to handle. However, they are designed for handling goods rather than preserving their quality. Their limited barrier properties leave rice exposed to changing humidity, moisture ingress and oxidation.
Rice can be affected by insects such as rice weevils and grain borers during storage and transport. Eggs and larvae may already be hidden inside individual grains, making an infestation difficult to detect at an early stage. As the insects continue to develop, they can cause kernel damage, weight loss, contamination, rejected shipments and customer claims.
Conventional control often involves chemical fumigation, which may be unsuitable or undesirable for organic and residue-sensitive supply chains.
Excess moisture can lead to fissuring, grain breakage, mould development, discolouration and reduced milling quality. Example of external causes of moisture ingress include high relative humidity and condensation resulting from rapid temperature changes during storage or transport.
Exposure to oxygen can gradually affect the natural oils and aroma compounds in rice, leading to stale or rancid flavours, loss of aroma, colour changes and reduced quality.
vQm Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) protects the origin quality and extends shelf life by creating a stable, protective environment around the rice during storage and transport by extracting the oxygen and replacing it with CO₂ or N₂.
Correct drying and product inspection remain essential, as MAP cannot correct rice that is already too moist or damaged.
Applying Modified Atmosphere Packaging at semi-bulk level can help rice growers, millers, processors, exporters and ingredient suppliers preserve quality and extend shelf life.
Flushing bags with or naturally eliminates all insects across all life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults), removing the need for harmful pesticides like phosphine. Independent research has demonstrated that high-CO₂ modified atmospheres achieved close to 100% mortality in both paddy and polished rice.
vQm high-barrier liners limit moisture exchange with the external atmosphere, helping to maintain the moisture content and water activity established before packing. This reduces the risk of, fissuring, grain breakage, mould development, discolouration and reduced milling quality.
By reducing oxygen exposure and limiting external oxygen ingress, vQm MAP helps preserve the aroma, flavour, colour and quality of rice during storage and transport
By helping to preserve quality for longer, MAP provides more flexibility in deciding when rice is stored, shipped or sold, based on demand, logistics and market conditions.
Designed for efficient vacuum and gas flushing of full big bags and wrapped pallets.
A reliable seal is essential for maintaining the modified atmosphere inside the packaging. The recommended sealer depends on the selected packaging option.
Designed to measure and verify MAP conditions. Measuring the and CO₂ concentrations supports quality assurance and confirms that the required MAP conditions have been achieved.
For the storage and transport of semi-bulk rice, we recommend the following packaging solutions.
All packaging is designed with the vQm valve sealed inside (that enables efficient gas flushing through one secure connection point at amazing speed) Explore the vQm Two-Way Valve →
The form-stable square design makes the Quadro Big Bag ideal for the efficient semi-bulk transport of rice. Each bag can hold up to 1,200 kg and helps maximise the use of available container space.
Wrapping or Hood Liners: If you prefer using traditional bags, you can stack them on pallets and enclose the entire unit in a vQm Wrapping Liner or a Hood liner in case an automated palletizer is used. This protects whole shipments at once without altering your existing bagging process.
The use of modified atmospheres to control Sitophilus zeamais and Sitophilus oryzae on stored rice in Portugal. Journal of Stored Products Research
vQm Modified Atmosphere Packaging can be used for dry paddy, brown rice, white rice, parboiled rice, organic rice and aromatic varieties such as jasmine and basmati.
The recommended packaging, gas protocol and filling weight depend on the rice form, bulk density, storage period and required protection.
The required moisture content depends on the rice form, storage period, climate and intended use.
IRRI guidance recommends a moisture content of 14% or lower for general grain storage. For storage periods of approximately 8–12 months, 12–13% is generally recommended.
By flushing the high-barrier bags of vQm Packaging with elevated (>40%) and ensuring that a level of at least 35% is maintained for minimum of 15 days, during which the product temperature is at least 25 degrees Celsius, all life stages of insects can be eradicated (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults). A lower product temperature requires longer exposure time and/or a higher concentration.
Yes, nitrogen and CO2 are natural gases that are commonly used for food preservation and suitable for organic products as well.
Yes! You do not need to abandon woven or jute bags. You can place pallets stacked with filled jute bags directly inside a vQm Wrapping Liner or Hood Liner. The liner is then gas-flushed and sealed through the vQm valve, giving traditional jute bags full barrier protection against climate and oxidation.
With the vQm Two-Way Valve and High-Speed Vacuum Unit, a full big bag or wrapped pallet can typically be vacuumed and gas-flushed within approximately three to five minutes.
The exact processing time depends on the packaging volume, rice density, selected atmosphere, gas supply and processing protocol.
