What governmental incentive spurred the innovation leading to Nicolas Appert's preservation method?
Answer
A substantial prize offered by the French government under Napoleon Bonaparte
The development of reliable, bulk food preservation in the early 19th century was directly motivated by military requirements. Napoleon Bonaparte, leading the French government, needed a way to supply large armies and navies that were often far removed from regular supply lines. To incentivize a solution, the government offered a significant reward, specifically 12,000 francs, to anyone who could successfully devise a method for preserving food in bulk over long durations. This governmental and military necessity served as the critical external pressure that drove Nicolas Appert's intensive experimentation and eventual success in 1810.
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