Production of biodegradable polymers from renewable resources for the development of edible coatings and packaging materials for fruits
Administrative Manager of the Project Cooperation Partner: Karina Juhņeviča-Radenkova
Partners involved in the project implementation:
- University of Latvia (lead partner)
- Institute of Horticulture
- AS “Rankas Piens”
- SIA “Probiotika LV”
- SIA “Skoru dārzi”
- Auri parish farm “Pērles”
- Valters Dambe
Project goal: to develop new materials for processing fruits, especially soft berries (raspberries and strawberries), with biodegradable microbially synthesized polymer coatings (edible films), which would allow for longer preservation of the quality of berries and extend their shelf life – without using chemicals harmful to humans and the environment.
Brief project description:
Seven cooperation partners have joined forces in the implementation of the project to develop biodegradable and harmless coatings for processing fruits and berries, as well as packaging materials that would allow for extending their shelf life in a way that is harmless to humans and the environment. One of the main advantages of such coatings and materials is that they can include biologically active substances, thus ensuring not only the safety of the product, but also increasing its nutritional value and improving its sensory properties.
The research aims to verify and prove that the shelf life of berries can be extended by treating them with an effective, safe and biodegradable polymer coating obtained from microbially synthesized polysaccharides, their derivatives and composites. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to conduct biotechnological studies on the specifics of obtaining specific biopolymers from agricultural and processing industry by-products (e.g. whey, plant residue biomass hydrolysates, molasses, etc.), as a result of which a prototype technology for obtaining biopolymer coatings and packaging materials with characteristics that correspond to their application (fruit coatings, biodegradable packaging materials - for packaging both fruit and dairy products) will be developed.
The implementation of the project is supported by the Rural Support Service and the Ministry of Agriculture.
More information about the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development is available on the European Commission's website.
