Rice and dry pasta products are highly consumed across Europe and the rest of the World. Both products are among the four most sensitive products to insect infestation (along with wheat and maize grains). Rice and dry pasta producers are highly concerned about this problem and they apply a great effort in controlling insect infestation at their production facilities. However, once the food product is packed they can be stored for periods of up to 36 months and are thus largely exposed to a class of insects which constitute the primary pests in warmer parts of the world; the granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) and the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae).
Insect infestations of packed food products occur mainly during transport, distribution and storage in warehouses, logistics centres and retail stores. In this process, the primary packages containing the food are usually grouped into a secondary cardboard packaging element for transport, distribution, and storage. Cardboard is the most used material constituting the secondary packaging for pasta and rice. Cardboard secondary packaging protects the food product along distribution and it is also used as a merchandising unit for displaying the product in retail outlets (e.g. box pallets).
Weevils penetrate easily through cardboard materials through seals, pinholes and other physically damaged points, becoming the most significant entry channel. European consumers are especially sensitive to finding insects in the food they consume. Just one infested package has huge consequences for food companies and retailers related to complaints, economic penalties and brand image damages.
Our company, Inesfly, is specialised in the development and production of new and more efficient products to combat all kind of pests. The patented technology to microencapsulate insecticides, including natural insect repellents, is applied to several finished products such as paints, coatings and watery dispersions for surface treatments and INSECTBARRIER represents a great market opportunity to extend this technology to the food-packaging sector. Market figures are huge, with more than 30,000 and 15,000 million units of packaging production for rice and pasta, respectively, growing at a rate higher than 3% each year. The European region contributes to the global production with a market share of 10% and 40%, for rice and pasta, respectively, involving Spain, Italy, France and Germany as main producers.
The main objective of the action is to develop a feasibility study on the potential introduction of the natural insect repellent coating solution in the paperboard market for dry pasta and rice products, including a technical feasibility study, stakeholder assessment, market study, and the elaboration of a business plan.
