Shelf-life Enhancing Packaging Systems for Mediterranean Food through Innovative and Circular Solutions Based on Agri-Food Multi-Product Cascade Biorefinery (PRIMA-S2-2023/PCI2024-153453)
The BIOMEDPACK project focuses on creating packaging and biopreservation solutions derived from the valorization of the lignocellulosic and bioactive fractions of agro-industrial by-products from the Mediterranean region. Its main objective is to reduce food waste and the loss of nutrients and bioactivity along the food value chain, promoting a more sustainable and circular economy.
To tackle these challenges, an integrated approach will be adopted to study the interaction between food and packaging. This will support the development of active bio-based packaging solutions, using biopolymers, active biocompounds, and microbial consortia to regulate the microbial dynamics of food, thus extending its shelf life and improving its organoleptic and nutritional properties.
A variety of 100% bio-based active packaging demonstrators will be designed and tested, including fiber trays, films, coatings, absorbent pads, and chromatic indicators throughout the post-harvest chain. These systems can be synergistically combined to maximize their effectiveness and be tailored to the specific needs of food products, offering viable and cost-effective alternatives to current plastic packaging.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this proposal is to develop scalable and sustainable packaging and biopreservation solutions tailored to the specific Mediterranean context, based on the valorization of lignocellulosic and bioactive fractions from agricultural by-products, supported by food microbiome information and computational techniques. BIOMEDPACK will develop solutions based on a circular approach to improve shelf life and mitigate food waste in different Mediterranean food matrices, through the synergistic combination of suitable bio-based polymers and bioprotective agents, while also considering the added nutritional value of edible packaging solutions. To achieve this, the following strategic objectives will be pursued:
- Design an implementation strategy for small-scale biorefineries of agricultural by-products for the circular production of bio-based active packaging systems in the Mediterranean area.
- Develop multiproduct cascading biorefinery processes with an easily deployable and scalable approach for the valorization of biological and chemical fractions from various agricultural by-products.
- Develop microbiome-driven active packaging systems through the synergistic combination of biopolymers, bioactive compounds, and functional microbial consortia obtained from agricultural by-products, to extend shelf life, enhance quality, and improve the nutritional properties of food products from farm to table.
Universidad de Córdoba participation
The University of Córdoba is the coordinating institution of the BIOMEDPACK project and leads several technical work packages, including:
• WP3: Development of sustainable, simple, and scalable biorefinery processes for the separation and extraction of biopolymers and active compounds from agricultural by-products.
• WP4: Development and application of an in vitro/in silico platform as an innovative testing ground for screening bioprotective microbial consortia and bioactive compounds that extend food shelf life and ensure its safety.
The project leadership involves the Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, as well as the Department of Food Science and Technology.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Investigador Principal: Eduardo Espinosa Víctor
Correo electrónico de contacto: eduardo.espinosa@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: https://biomedpack.eu/