Many nut varieties have a high oil content and a high proportion of unsaturated fats, making them particularly sensitive to oxidation. Nuts are also vulnerable to moisture fluctuations and insect infestations, which can negatively affect product quality during storage and transport.
vQm Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) extracts oxygen from the packaging and replaces it with carbon dioxide (CO₂) or nitrogen (N₂), creating a controlled and protective atmosphere around the product. This helps protect the original quality and extend the shelf life of nuts during storage and transport.
Correct drying, moisture control and product inspection remain essential, as MAP cannot restore nuts that are already too moist, oxidised, mould-affected or otherwise damaged.
Applying Modified Atmosphere Packaging to semi-bulk nuts can help growers, processors, exporters, traders and ingredient suppliers preserve product quality during storage and international transport.
By reducing oxygen exposure and limiting external oxygen ingress, vQm MAP helps slow lipid oxidation and the development of stale or rancid flavours.
High-barrier liners strongly limit moisture exchange with the external atmosphere, helping nuts maintain their required moisture level and reducing the risk of rehydration, condensation-related damage, mould growth and in susceptible nut varieties, aflatoxin formation.
Modified Atmosphere Packaging can be used to treat insects across all life stages in, using low-oxygen, CO₂-rich or N₂-rich atmospheres without conventional toxic fumigants. For applications specifically focused on insect treatment, please read our Non-chemical Insect Treatment page for requirements and further guidance.
By helping nuts maintain their quality for longer, MAP provides greater flexibility in deciding when products are stored, shipped, processed or sold based on demand, logistics and market conditions.
vQm MAP can also be used for nut varieties that are not covered on a dedicated application page, including:
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.
To transport semi-bulk nuts, we recommend the following packaging:
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 →
Its form-stable square design reduces bulging and helps maximise the use of available storage and container space.
If you prefer using palletised sacks, boxes or other existing cacao packaging, 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.
In case form-stability is not essential, regular shaped FIBC with MAP liner inside is another option.
Protect nuts against oxidation, moisture fluctuations and insects while preserving their flavour, appearance and commercial value from origin to destination.
