PHILADELPHIA, PA - AgroFresh recently entered a unique partnership as it aims to commercialize its technology and solutions. The company has formed an exclusive global licensing agreement with Know Hub Chile to test patent-pending technology for superficial scald control in apples and pears.
“We are excited about the potential impact of this new technology for the apple and pear industry,” said AgroFresh CEO Clint Lewis. “Natural scald control technology could be a strategic complement to our conventional scald control portfolio and is a key part of our innovation pipeline. By commercializing more plant-based solutions and leveraging our deep global post-harvest expertise, AgroFresh continues its commitment to help reduce food loss and waste for pome fruit across the produce industry.”
The Know Hub Chile technology, developed by and licensed from the University of Talca in Chile, is based on a natural lipid found in plants. The new technology may provide a naturally derived solution to manage scald that could be available for drench, dip, and fogging applications, a press release stated.
AgroFresh reportedly expects that customer trials will begin during the 2021–2022 Northern Hemisphere pome fruit season.
“After an extensive industry investigation, we chose to work with AgroFresh based on their expertise, footprint, and deep customer relationships in the produce marketplace,” said Javier Ramírez, Chief Executive Officer for Know Hub Chile.
Fernando Venegas, Chief Tech Transfer Officer at Know Hub, also weighed in on the partnership.
“AgroFresh supported this technology from its earliest stages, including co-funding public grants that helped lead to its development. We are excited to work with them, and to contribute from Chile with an innovative technology that could help the pome fruit industry achieve their quality and sustainability objectives,” said Venegas.
AgroFresh supports United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which calls for the reduction of global food loss and waste at the post-harvest, retail, and consumer levels, and participates in the Friends of Champions 12.3 network.
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