Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Cyanide Extraction Technology (Technology to detoxify oilseeds / fruit seeds that contain cyanogenic glycosides to upcycle and making them edible and usable in the food industry for the first time)
Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-05-31
There are currently thousand of tons of food waste in the stone fruit industry as a high content of cyanogenic glycosides (cyanide) in oilseeds (eg. the majority of linseeds / flaxseeds and almonds) and stone fruit seeds (eg. apricot, plum, cherry seeds) prevents them from being consumed at all or in higher amounts.
The industry is also fighting to reach ESG/green deal-goals within the current shift to plant based proteins, whereas most sources are highly unsustainable. The above mentioned resources containing cyanide are sustainable, flavourful & nutritional protein sources that currently cannot be used. The market therefore demands a process to drastically reduce the cyanogenic glycosides in these resources to make them consumable in significant amounts.
Every year, approximately 100.000 tons of stone fruit pits from apricots, cherries and plums are wasted in the European Union alone. It is Kern Tec’s mission to integrate these unused, healthy and sustainable raw materials into our existing food systems.
However, there are some challenges when it comes to utilizing these fruit pits
These include:
the decentralized processing of stone fruit
missing technologies for transformation and detoxification
and the absence of explored applications
Kern Tec has solved these challenges by applying a holistic approach in the value chain and the innovation of new technologies. With Kern Tec’s technology, stone fruit seeds are unlocked for food consumption. Therefore, Kern Tec creates a whole new supply chain with its headquarter in Austria. By using European resources, Kern Tec is able to generate new value to the European economy and its SME and large companies. Further, Kern Tec creates value with raw materials that are already in Europe, making the continent more independent from imports and global supply chain risks.
Kern Tec’s core technology, the cyanide extraction, was initially developed at a lab scale and is currently patent pending. The EIC grant has made the implementation of this technology at an industrial scale and the achievement of TRL8 feasible. After reaching TRL8, all stone fruit seeds from apricots, cherries and plums become available for food consumption. Primarily, Kern Tec measures the impact by calculating the amount of fruit pits saved in kilograms through our upcycling efforts. Additionally, the environmental footprint is assessed by considering factors such as CO2 emissions and water usage. Our calculations reveal that our approach leads to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, with a 50 % decrease compared to traditional nuts like almonds. Furthermore, we achieve a remarkable 95 % reduction in water usage compared to nuts like almonds, highlighting the efficiency and sustainability of our processes.
Incorporating stone fruit seeds as a standard ingredient in the food industry catalyzes the shift towards sustainable agricultural practices and reduced food waste by utilizing readily available resources in food production. By integrating stone fruit seeds into food products, we not only enhance nutritional value of the end products but also drive the change to more sustainable food ingredients. Ultimately, mainstreaming stone fruit seeds like apricots, cherries and plums in the food industry represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable future, reinforcing the interconnectedness of economic, environmental, and societly well-being.
The industry is also fighting to reach ESG/green deal-goals within the current shift to plant based proteins, whereas most sources are highly unsustainable. The above mentioned resources containing cyanide are sustainable, flavourful & nutritional protein sources that currently cannot be used. The market therefore demands a process to drastically reduce the cyanogenic glycosides in these resources to make them consumable in significant amounts.
Every year, approximately 100.000 tons of stone fruit pits from apricots, cherries and plums are wasted in the European Union alone. It is Kern Tec’s mission to integrate these unused, healthy and sustainable raw materials into our existing food systems.
However, there are some challenges when it comes to utilizing these fruit pits
These include:
the decentralized processing of stone fruit
missing technologies for transformation and detoxification
and the absence of explored applications
Kern Tec has solved these challenges by applying a holistic approach in the value chain and the innovation of new technologies. With Kern Tec’s technology, stone fruit seeds are unlocked for food consumption. Therefore, Kern Tec creates a whole new supply chain with its headquarter in Austria. By using European resources, Kern Tec is able to generate new value to the European economy and its SME and large companies. Further, Kern Tec creates value with raw materials that are already in Europe, making the continent more independent from imports and global supply chain risks.
Kern Tec’s core technology, the cyanide extraction, was initially developed at a lab scale and is currently patent pending. The EIC grant has made the implementation of this technology at an industrial scale and the achievement of TRL8 feasible. After reaching TRL8, all stone fruit seeds from apricots, cherries and plums become available for food consumption. Primarily, Kern Tec measures the impact by calculating the amount of fruit pits saved in kilograms through our upcycling efforts. Additionally, the environmental footprint is assessed by considering factors such as CO2 emissions and water usage. Our calculations reveal that our approach leads to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, with a 50 % decrease compared to traditional nuts like almonds. Furthermore, we achieve a remarkable 95 % reduction in water usage compared to nuts like almonds, highlighting the efficiency and sustainability of our processes.
Incorporating stone fruit seeds as a standard ingredient in the food industry catalyzes the shift towards sustainable agricultural practices and reduced food waste by utilizing readily available resources in food production. By integrating stone fruit seeds into food products, we not only enhance nutritional value of the end products but also drive the change to more sustainable food ingredients. Ultimately, mainstreaming stone fruit seeds like apricots, cherries and plums in the food industry represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable future, reinforcing the interconnectedness of economic, environmental, and societly well-being.
During the initial phase of this project, we conducted trials using various pilot machines and raw materials to identify the optimal setup for our industrial prototype cyanide extraction plant. We thoroughly analyzed the impact of different raw materials as well as pre processing steps. This led to the establishment of a finalized process control for both raw materials, enabling us to calculate upscaling data and design of the industrial prototype at TRL8.
One of the significant milestones achieved during this reporting period was the successful completion of Work Package 3. This involved testing the prototype system and adapting the design accordingly. As a result, we finalized the design, which includes crucial components.
Furthermore, an in depth market research was completed, revealing promising opportunities for our new food ingredient in the dairy alternative industry and confectionary industries. We developed a detailed product specification aligned with marked demands and customer preferences.
Additionally, we made significant strides in intellectual property protection by submitting a patent for our technology. Overall these achievements signify substantial progress towards our project goals and underline the potential for impactful contributions to the food industry.
One of the significant milestones achieved during this reporting period was the successful completion of Work Package 3. This involved testing the prototype system and adapting the design accordingly. As a result, we finalized the design, which includes crucial components.
Furthermore, an in depth market research was completed, revealing promising opportunities for our new food ingredient in the dairy alternative industry and confectionary industries. We developed a detailed product specification aligned with marked demands and customer preferences.
Additionally, we made significant strides in intellectual property protection by submitting a patent for our technology. Overall these achievements signify substantial progress towards our project goals and underline the potential for impactful contributions to the food industry.
We made significant advancements in characterizing our raw materials. By refining our understanding of these materials, we have greatly enhanced the standardization of our end products. This improved characterization not only ensures consistency in quality but also provides a solid foundation for further advancements in product development and optimization.