Multifunctional bio-protectors for postharvest fruits

Executive Summary

The promotion of healthier lifestyles increases the consumption of fresh products such as tropical and Mediterranean fruits. Their consumption can expose the consumer to a higher risk of diseases since the fruits do not go through the processing stages to ensure the effective elimination or inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, postharvest treatments are essential for the conservation and nutritional quality of the fruit, by reducing the microbial load and extending their shelf-life. Unlike traditional means of postharvest protection, fruit biopreservation offers various benefits using active molecules that can constitute a harmless alternative for protecting fruit from postharvest damage. Through the experimental application of a new technology, based on multifunctional metabolites (antibacterial/antifungal/antioxidants), the project proposes to contribute to the security of the consumer by providing food that is safe and of good quality. Through the experimental application of a new technology, based on multifunctional metabolites produced by food grade (GRAS) microorganisms and natural substances (also GRAS) which will contribute to the security of the consumer by providing safe and good quality foods. Through the project, ‘Multifunctional Bio-protectors’ (MBs) will become a commercial product to improve the food safety of postharvest fruits through natural conservation from farms to the consumer, and it will be a solution to mitigate potential losses due to pathogen contamination and reduce the risk of diseases transmitted by the consumption of contaminated food. At the end of the project, the necessary foundation is expected to be made available to the countries of the region to improve the quality of these fruits based on a promising technology adapted to local conditions. The activities will be performed in Ecuador, Colombia and Chile, and link the participation of the leading entities in agro-industrial research.

The technological solution

Improve the safety and nutritional quality of Cape gooseberry and strawberry fruits after harvest through the formulation and application of Multifunctional Bio-protectors. The development of MBs for fruit protection proposes a crucial technological innovation that is linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, "Good Health and Well-being", and SDG 12 "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns". From this scope, a sustainable strategy is proposed, which consists of ensuring fruit preservation, decreasing microbial contamination, and increasing nutritional capacity.

The technology is based on the design of a formulation of MBs containing a set of bacterial metabolites (Ecuador and Colombia) and natural compounds (Chile), for the prevention/protection and reduction of biofilm and/or rot formation that will improve the safety and quality of the fruit postharvest. The MBs will be applied in the postharvest phase under experimental conditions (in vitro) and subsequently, one MB per country will be tested in the storage areas of the producers (warehouses). With the development of this project, the first experimental trials will be carried out with the productive sector (fruit producers), which will allow eventual prototypes to be advanced to the next level of technological maturity at TRL6 ("Technology Readiness Level 6" or demonstration phase).

For this technological innovation there is a consortium of three institutions of higher education in Ecuador, Colombia and Chile that have the necessary infrastructure and equipment for the development of the project, plus an alliance with producing farms such as Terrafertil Ecuador S.A., Frutimar AG and S.A.T. Frutillas Chanco-Pelluhue in Chile, with the aim of obtaining food security for the consumer, introducing production chains that activate the economy, sustainable production and labor effectiveness in the producing farms. Consequently, the development of the bioproducts market in Ecuador and Colombia, whose economy has not yet transcended the primary-export paradigm, represents a notable economic and technological challenge.

Results

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries: Approximately 2,000 producers fruit producers from Ecuador, Colombia and Chile. In addition, the partners have a network of collaborators, between distributors and consumers, who will be able to benefit from the new technology.

Indirect beneficiaries: 100,000 fruit consumers, at least two potential agricultural product companies. More than 50,000 academics will benefit from the information generated through scientific publications.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products