Companies to jointly develop biological solutions to reduce food waste
AgroFresh has teamed up with Belgian AgTech startup Biotalys to develop and market sustainable biological fungicides for post-harvest use.
Fungicides are already essential to protect fresh produce after harvest, and the companies said the collaboration will expand the industry’s toolbox with environmentally friendly biological solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of markets around the world.
According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, an estimated 14 per cent of produce is lost between harvest and retail, in part due to spoilage from mould and rot.
“Post-harvest freshness solutions are especially critical for high-value and highly perishable crops, where even small losses can result in major food waste and economic impact,” said AgroFresh CEO Clint Lewis.
“As the global leader in post-harvest freshness innovation, AgroFresh is proud to be partnering with Biotalys to develop sustainable biological fungicide solutions. This collaboration represents an important step forward in expanding our innovation pipeline with novel, sustainable technologies that preserve freshness, reduce waste, and support the success of produce suppliers around the world.”
Fungal decay remains one of the most persistent and complex challenges in the post-harvest supply chain. Once harvested, fresh produce loses its natural defences and becomes highly susceptible to spoilage caused by fungi.
These pathogens thrive in common storage and transit environments and can spread rapidly, making consistent and effective disease management essential. As produce moves through increasingly global and quality-driven supply chains, biological tools that can support freshness and reduce loss are becoming more important than ever.
Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys, said: “The global post-harvest fungicide market is valued at US$300mn. Our expansion into this critical segment represents an important step for Biotalys and demonstrates the significant potential and versatility of our protein-based Agrobody platform to help preserve food quality.
“We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the global leader in post-harvest food quality control to bring our biocontrol solutions to this industry segment and make a material difference in this crucial area in the years to come.”
