In the days of Ancient Rome, the innovators of that era experimented with several methods to preserve food. They dried, salted, and fermented food they wanted to keep.
During the late 18th century, European countries had trouble with food spoiling during military and exploratory expeditions. During and just before the Napoleonic Wars started in 1803, French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte grew frustrated that his military campaigns were halted when food supplies spoiled before they even arrived. He responded by offering a reward of 12,000 francs to anyone who could develop an effective way to preserve large amounts of food.
