Edible coating for preventing loss of water and fungi proliferation in fruits and vegetables

Project Information

B-shelf

Grant agreement ID: 775249

DOI

10.3030/775249

Project closed

EC signature date 30 April 2017

Start date 1 May 2017

End date 31 August 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

BOTANOCAP LTD
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - B-shelf (Edible coating for preventing loss of water and fungi proliferation in fruits and vegetables)

Reporting period: 2017-05-01 to 2017-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

B-Shelf is an innovative project that will allow our company to speed up the commercialization of an edible coating at a competitive price which will disrupt the post-harvesting and in-storage market of fruits and vegetables. B-shelf answers the global need of reducing post-harvest losses of fresh produce: Only in Europe, €13 billion are wasted during distribution, retail and household levels yearly. B-Shelf could save 40% of these losses, saving €5.2 billion. Our target is to reach the market in 2020 with a solution that will reduce significantly water losses and fungal infections in fresh pepper, to later reach other fruits and vegetables.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We have analysed the Freedom to Operate of our solution, as well as its financial and technical feasibility, to finally elaborate a solid business plan. We have found that our novelty is not yet protected by any patent, while we have our core technology, the microcapsules, already protected in 20 countries. However, we are aware of the need to respond quicker than our competitors, since is a growing market. Therefore, we have defined a complete and structured Technical Work Plan for the final adaptation of our solution to peppers (as a model for other crops) and to comply with the regulations in our target markets, as well as a Business Model. BotanoCap’s profile is suitable to develop this project, as it sums management capabilities, technological and industrial expertise, sound established research, business and commercial networks, lobby capabilities and innovative attitude. However, we consider that by getting involved different key stakeholders from the very early stages, B-Shelf project will have a greater impact.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The impact of B-Shelf will reach the whole supply chain: from production to the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, since post-harvest handling and storage, processing and distribution and retailing phases are being affected the most from food losses due to spoilage and contamination they will be given special focus upon commercialization. With B-shelf, these European stakeholders can save up to €5.2 billion. Handlers, processors and distributors will experience a positive effect on their profits by the boosting their delivery volumes, decrease delivery frequencies and enlarged access to new markets. For BotanoCap, B-shelf will generate up to €26M cumulative profit after 5 years of commercialization and will generate 78 new jobs.

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