Period 2 (1st August 2016 – 31st July 2017):
Pilot trials: During the second period of the project the whey batches with better results on antimicrobial activity according to the tests conducted by CTIC-CITA were tested at CAMPOTEC´s facilities on onion, carrot, tomato, apple, cabbage and lettuce to test the efficacy of the WHEYCOM formula in a simulated real environment.
Scale-up studies: A techno-economic assessment for scaling-up purposes of the WHEYCOM formula was carried out. Production conditions as well as material, equipment and human resources required for sanitizer production at industrial scale were established.
Demonstration agreements and Execution of demonstrators: AGF identified possible potential clients by three means: 1) searching in database of F&V companies, 2) through its current clients and 3) attending international trade fairs of the F&V sector.
A Final Product Specification was provided based on the results obtained in the demonstrations of the effectivity of the WHEYCOM formulas conducted.
Production Plan: In this second period AGF has established the planning of the production of the WHEYCOM formula at ISANATUR´s facilities. The raw materials and equipments required, as well as the timing planned and the protocol for delivery of the product to the client were defined.
Technology Watch: An update of the Technology Watch conducted in the first period is tackled in this second period. This contains the state-of-the-art of F&V sanitizing technologies based on literature review, relevant publications, the most recent patents, trade shows and conferences, funded European projects in the scope of the project and a review of legislation concerning food sanitizers.
Intellectual protection: After studying in the period 1 the different available options to protect Intellectual Property (IP) resulting from WHEYCOM, AGF decided to request a Patent Technology Report to the Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas (OEPM) for assessing the patentability of the WHEYCOM formula invention.
Business Plan: A Business Plan was conducted for detecting the market opportunity of the WHEYCOM product and estimating expected costs and revenues. The strategy for the Exploitation of the project results was established.
Marketing activities. The following dissemination activities were conducted in order to put into place the marketing strategy stated: On February 22th 2017 and March 30th 2017 AGF attended an Innovation Day organized by CONTACTICA and celebrated in Navarra and Zaragoza, where AGF presented the WHEYCOM project. On October 5th to 7th 2016, AGF attended the trade fair Fruit Attraction. AGF also attended the 2017 edition of the trade fair Macfrut, held in May 10 -12th at Rimini Fiera (Italy). On May 22th 2017, the Spanish newspaper “El Mundo” published an interview given by Rodrigo Casas from AGF for a special supplement on agricultural innovation.
