Eco-Friendly Composition by Italian Sartup Reduces Post-Harvest Loss and Extends Shelf Life

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In the global fight against food waste, a significant portion of losses occurs after harvest. Fruits and vegetables continue to respire and lose water, leading to wilting, weight loss, and surface damage that make them unmarketable. A new patent, WO2025202858 A1 filed by an Italian Startup, Agribiotechnology S.R.L., introduces an innovative, low-impact solution to this age-old problem: a natural composition that acts as a protective shield for fresh produce, significantly extending its shelf life.

The Problem: Vulnerability After Harvest

Once harvested, fruits and vegetables are highly susceptible to quality degradation. Their epidermis, or outer skin, can be easily damaged, leading to:

• Rapid Dehydration: Causing wilting and loss of firmness and weight.

• Surface Lesions and Cracking: Especially in thin-skinned fruits like cherries, grapes, and apricots, which can render the produce unsellable.

• Short Shelf Life: Leading to significant economic losses for producers and distributors.

Current solutions, such as applications of sulfur compounds or plant hormones like gibberellins, are often limited in effectiveness, classified as pesticides, and can leave chemical residues, which are increasingly frowned upon by health-conscious consumers.

The Invention: A Multi-Faceted, Natural Composition

The patent discloses a novel composition designed to address these issues holistically. It is a carefully balanced blend of common, generally safe ingredients:

• Vegetable Oil (3-20% w/w): Acts as a physical barrier, reducing water loss through transpiration. Preferred oils include sunflower, peanut, linseed, or hemp oil.

• Alcohol (10-40% w/w): Such as ethyl or methyl alcohol, which likely aids in the even distribution of the composition and may have a mild sanitizing effect.

• Antioxidant (2-25% w/w): Ingredients like Butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) or ascorbic acid help prevent oxidative spoilage, keeping the produce fresher for longer.

• Carrier/Bonding Agent (40-75% w/w): Typically glycerine and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), which help the mixture adhere to the produce's surface and form a consistent, protective film.

A preferred embodiment of the composition consists of Sunflower Oil, Ethyl Alcohol, BHT, Glycerine, and PEG.

Application and Use: Simple and Effective

The composition is designed for practical, post-harvest application. It is applied in liquid form, preferably using:

• Spraying

• Thermal Fogging: A method that creates a fine mist, ensuring complete and even coverage.

The treatment is applied after harvest while the produce is in cold storage (typically at 0-6°C). This timing is crucial, as it protects the produce during the critical storage and transportation phases. The inventors emphasize that due to its low toxicity, the treatment can be repeated as needed without safety concerns.

Proven Results: Significant Reduction in Weight Loss

The patent provides compelling experimental data from tests on potatoes and pears:

• Potatoes: Stored at 5-6°C and treated three times, the untreated control samples lost over 14% of their weight. In contrast, the treated samples lost only about 5%—a reduction in weight loss of nearly two-thirds.

• Pears: Stored at -1°C and treated twice, the untreated controls lost over 13% of their weight, while the treated pears lost only about 3.7%—a reduction in weight loss of over 70%.

These results demonstrate the composition's powerful ability to slow down dehydration, a primary cause of post-harvest spoilage. Additionally, the treatment was observed to inhibit sprouting in potatoes and reduce the appearance of surface lesions, further enhancing the marketable quality and shelf life of the produce.

Benefits and Market Impact

This invention offers a paradigm shift in post-harvest management:

1. Reduces Food Waste: By dramatically slowing dehydration and physical deterioration, more produce reaches the consumer in good condition.

2. Lowers Economic Loss: Farmers and distributors can retain more of their product's value, improving profitability.

3. Consumer-Friendly: The composition is based on ingredients perceived as natural and safe, aligning with the demand for "clean label" and residue-free foods.

4. Environmentally Benign: It provides an effective alternative to synthetic pesticides and chemical treatments used post-harvest.

This innovation represents a significant advancement in agricultural technology. By leveraging a simple yet scientifically formulated blend of common substances, Agribiotechnology S.R.L. has developed a powerful tool to combat post-harvest loss. This innovation not only promises to enhance the economic viability of fruit and vegetable production but also contributes meaningfully to the global effort to create a more sustainable and efficient food system by reducing waste from farm to table.

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