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.
