Project: Shelf-life Enhancing Packaging Systems for Mediterranean Food through Innovative and Circular Solutions Based on Agri-Food Multi-Product Cascade Biorefinery
| Acronym | BIOMEDPACK |
| Duration | 01/06/2024 - 01/06/2027 |
| Project Topic | BIOMEDPACK aims to address the pressing problem of food waste and sustainability by developing scalable and sustainable packaging systems based on the valorisation of lignocellulosic and bioactive fractions of agricultural by-products. This proposal will contribute to the development of a socio-economic strategy for the potential implementation of small-scale biorefineries in Mediterranean region to move towards a sustainable economy. The fractions isolated from the valorised by-products will be used in the development of bio-based packaging systems as viable and cost-effective alternatives to current plastic-based systems. Theses packaging systems will be based on the food-microbiome-interaction approach. To this end, design of packaging formulations will be based on a thorough understanding of the dynamic microbiome of foods during the various stages of their postharvest management. This knowledge will be used to investigate the effect of natural antimicrobial agents on the microbial communities of food products, enabling the development of packaging solutions that modulate the dynamics of the microbiome to increase the shelf-life of Mediterranean foods. To facilitate the development of these solutions, an open in silico/in vitro platform will be created to pre-screen natural active agents and evaluate their impact on microbial consortia considering the entire microbial community. Pioneering new packaging concepts will be explored, such as symbiotic packaging, where edible coatings are used to support functional bioprotective microbial consortia and biocompounds to enhance the nutritional properties of vegetables. A complete portfolio of 100% bio-based active packaging demonstrators (fibre trays, films, coatings, absorbent pads and halochromic indicators) will be developed and tested along of postharvest chain. These systems can be synergistically combined to enhance their effectiveness and meet the specific needs of foods. |
| Network | PRIMA |
| Call | Section 2 – Multi-topic 2023 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | Universidad de Córdoba | Coordinator | Spain |
| 145 | PackBenefit S.L. | Partner | Spain |
| 146 | Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 | Partner | Algeria |
| 147 | University of Freiburg | Partner | Germany |
| 148 | Computomics GmbH | Partner | Germany |
| 149 | University of Turin | Partner | Italy |
| 150 | Mohammed VI Polytechnic University | Partner | Morocco |
| 151 | Université Cadi Ayyad | Partner | Morocco |
| 152 | University of Sfax | Partner | Tunisia |
| 153 | GTE Sustainability and Energy Consultancy | Partner | Türkiye |