The world produces enough food to feed the entire global population twice over, but hunger remains a worldwide epidemic, with 40-60% of fruits and vegetables produced worldwide lost or due to spoilage or waste. Now Israeli agro-tech startup Sufresca Ltd. is seeking to combat both food waste and plastic use.
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The green solution from Sufresca, founded in 2020, is the result of a 15-year R&D effort led by company CSO, Prof. Amos Nussinovitch, at his lab at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Sufresca has developed an edible, biodegradable, water-based emulsion composed of wholly natural food ingredients. When applied to a fresh fruit or vegetable, the solution creates a breathable coating. Minute disruptions within the coating acts as a partial barrier that allows for optimal gas exchange, which slows down the process of post-harvest maturation and ripening and subsequent degradation and decay.
The team was determined to find a formula that could be adapted to a broad spectrum of fresh produce. "Each vegetable has its own unique traits," says Nussinovitch. "In our search for the common denominator that connects the plant kingdom, these physiological distinctions had to be addressed."
Sufresca says its solution can extend the shelf life of produce by up to several weeks, saving plastic packaging and extending shipment time.
"The chaotic structure of our coating was inspired by the cuticle structures that naturally layer plants to protect them from extreme environmental conditions and from water loss," explains Sufresca CEO Efrat Boker-Ferri.
To apply its solution to existing systems, Sufresca has developed a business model that it says makes its green coating a highly scalable and convenient option for producers, distributers, and exporters of fresh produce.
"Retailers and packaging houses are seeking cost-effective solutions to reduce waste and are kind to the planet," Boker-Ferri says.
"Our natural formula can be easily integrated into existing industry equipment, is adaptable to the various coating techniques and is completely safe to use. While we do offer a range of support services and guidance, our system is very straightforward to implement, eliminating the need for Sufresca personnel to be on site, increasing its affordability."
Sufresca recent closed $3.5 million in seed investment led by Israel's OurCrowd VC, followed by the food and agro-tech focused group FEAT Investments, as well as other investors. The round supports an initial $1.3 million previously raised from Agrinnovation and Rimonim.
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