Purdue Improved Crop Storage Bags

The Purdue Improved Crop Storage (​PICS) project aims to increase the income of farming families in West and ​Central Africa through the use of inexpensive, plastic grain storage bags. PIC​S first focused on cowpeas, an African staple, but research in a second phase (PICS2) extends to other grains and crop products.

PICS bags, developed at Purdue University by entomology professor Larry Murdock, reduces loss of cowpea grain to insect infestation. If 50% of cowpea grain at the farm level was put into airtight storage (PICS bags are one type), overall annual income in the region would increase by $255 million. PICS technology also opens another economic opportunity—PICS bag production and distribution. PICS project staff are working with local manufacturers to produce PICS bags, and with entrepreneurs to distribute them throughout West and Central Africa.

The original Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) bags were developed to protect cowpeas in storage from destruction by weevils. The second phase includes demonstration of the technology in the hope that people will adopt the use of PICS bags.

Publicly available: yes
Countries where available: Worldwide
Price range (USD): Contact supplier for quote