A natural solution for post-harvest protection of fruits and vegetables

Project Information

ANTOFERINE

Grant agreement ID: 946286

DOI

10.3030/946286

Project closed

EC signature date 6 May 2020

Start date 1 March 2020

End date 30 November 2022

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 2 943 762,50

EU contribution

€ 2 060 633,75

Coordinated by

ANTOFENOL
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ANTOFERINE (A natural solution for post-harvest protection of fruits and vegetables)

Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2022-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

45% of fruits and vegetables are lost globally; food waste has massive economic, social, and environmental impacts. Post-harvest losses amount to more than €200 billion globally and has a global carbon footprint of 3.3 GtCO2 eq. per year according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). If food loss was a country, it would be the third largest emitting country in the world.

80% of these losses are due to fungal contaminations. Farmers lack natural solutions to tackle this issue and rely almost exclusively on chemical products that are gradually being banned by regulations since they raise health and environmental concerns.

Antofenol develop one eco-extract named Antoferine, based on a patented disruptive chemical-free extraction process.

Antoferine is a natural vine extract that contains polyphenols, a potent natural fungicide and antioxidant. Antoferine presents itself as a very attractive natural solution for post-harvest protection in agriculture:
Safe for human health and the environment
Effective against a wide range of pathogens
Promotes circular economy through the recycling of vineyard waste
Successfully tested on avocado, apple, banana, citrus, mango, peach, strawberry, tomato and potato
Tasteless
One of the few post-harvest protections available for organic farming
Cost-competitive with existing chemical solutions

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

With EIC program we develop our product at industrial scale in order to go on the market and to produce 1T/day.
Our EIC program include scale-up of our process, formulation of our active substance, homologation of our product and negotiation of distribution contract.
For this first period we follow our program even if we have some delay on two work package.

At the end of the program, our pilot line of production is functional.
To be ready to produce our biocontrol extract in our new industrial plant, we already work with AIGP to build the plant (offices and line). The building permit has been submitted in September 2022, projecting a launch of the construction in February 2023 and a final delivery in April 2024.

Regarding the formula, due to the result, we changed the positioning of our product to reach a first commercial target which allow us to develop the formulated product. Due to the process of regulatory we have two years more in Europe to find a way in term of formulation. We are continuing internal trials to find a formula that meets our specifications. This program open new market opportunity for our company and increase the need in active substance.

Regarding the authorisation to commercialise, the dossier has been submitted in EU in March 2022 and will be submit in USA in Q1 2023.
Finally, our commercial work allowed us to agree on partnerships with key players able to supply our product when it will be authorized to be sold. Some engagement letters and agreements for orders of Antoferine have been signed.

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)

For this first period we challenge our product with chemical solution and first results are promising. We also find a way to produce our Antoferine at large scale.
We want to give a 100% natural solution to preserve fruits and vegetables in post harvest in order to reduce the loses and to remplace chemical.
The process to obtain the authorisation to commercialise our solution on North American and European market is ongoing.

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