Revolutionary solution for shelf-life extension, better nutrition, appearance, and quality of fresh produce, fighting food waste

Breakthrough timed and gradual release freshness preservative (FDA-GRAS status) for stickers and films that provides shelf-life extension of fresh produce resulting in better appearance, nutrition and overall quality thereby fighting food waste. Our patented technology protects within produce packaging without changing any existing supply chain processes. Fresh Inset will decrease fruits and vegetable spoilage by 5.1% (9M tonnes) on initial markets (26 countries, 11 crops), reducing carbon footprint by 4.63M tonnes of CO2 annually.

This technology can be easily applied as labels & stickers in all types of fresh produce packaging.

Overview: 

Our company has developed a breakthrough and patented technology to produce stickers containing timed and gradual release of the freshness preservative 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene inhibitor, which slows down the post-harvest spoiling effects of ethylene on fruit and vegetables.

Ethylene is a major factor responsible for the ripening process and degradative processes that the produce industry must deal with, starting from the moment of harvest through to the customer. Must deal throughout the entire value chain.

Vidre+ is the breakthrough 2nd generation of 1-MCP technology, which exponentially expands the benefits of produce preservation by mitigating the effects of ethylene.

Vidre+ bringing timed and gradual release mechanism, allows produce to be treated by 1-MCP directly in packaging, eliminating the need of a 24-hour application in a sealed storage room or air-tight containers. 

Available as coated stickers, labels and films, the technology enables the use of 1-MCP on all produce and opens up types of produce that is known to respond to 1-MCP, but have not received the benefit due to the application limitations of 1st generation of 1-MCP products (which have immediate release and need to be applied in airtight storage for 24 hours or airtight packaging). 

Labelling/sticker manufacturers, flexible packaging manufacturers, fresh produce distributors, FMCG, big retail, post-harvest companies, and agrochemical companies – they all benefit from Fresh Inset as a business partner or a customer. 

We have business relationships with major growers and packers in target LATAM countries, T1 multinational post-harvest companies, and the No. 1 global labelling/sticker manufacturer among others.

Unique technology and product 

Our company's technology represents a game-changing technological advancement over the traditional, decades-old use of 1-MCP, which was used in powdered form and limited to controlled environment rooms (such as cold storage facilities, air-tight containers or sealed boxes). 

Most produce is highly perishable and cannot be packed air-tight (it can be harmful to the produce or is impractical for long periods of time). 

Due to its greater flexibility in application and dosing, Vidre+ facilitates the logistics and packaging aspects of different crops and produce delivery, helps preserve appearance, quality and freshness throughout the entire supply chain – from a producer/grower to packer/distributor to the end consumer. 

Using Vidre+ stickers requires no changes to current commercial practice (no need for airtight containers) and provides the industry with a functional solution of produce freshness prolongation.

Our company is the only market player offering proprietary timed and gradual release technology that overcomes two industry's major challenges at once:

1. Application barrier – requirement to use 1-MCP in powder form in storage conditions for 24 hours, and
2. Immediate release barrier – need for airtight conditions/containment for effective use. 

Our company is building significant barriers to entry with:

1. IP Protection - the technology is patented in 52 countries – the most important producer and consumer markets
2. Obtaining 1-MCP registration on a given market – the registration processes in respective Agencies are underway in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, the USA and the EU.

As a first step, Fresh Inset plans to obtain registration in 26 target countries for 11 different target crops – a major barrier of entry and a great competitive advantage.

The company is backed by an international team of scientists, agronomists, engineers, packaging sector experts and IP lawyers.

Our company is rolling out this technology with a full suite of products.

Commercialization starts with easy-to-use sticker format (sticker market handles billions units of stickers across logistics, inventory, brand and PriceLook-up Code (PLU) used in packaging and distribution of fresh produce). Foil or film-based, as well as aerosol methods of application are next in the pipeline.

Value proposition

Our company's current results and initial cooperation allow us to offer several significant and measurable values for our end-users depending on their place in the supply chain:

• New markets reach (thanks to expansion of 1-MCP into many crops)
• Reduced dehydration (mass loss) of produce during the logistic process
• Better products nutrition
• Better products appearance
• In some markets, getting rid of CA (control atmosphere) containers
• Reduced energy consumption during storage

Post-harvest handling (food producers)

Vidre+ benefits many types of produce suppliers given that there is no required storage time in a sealed room for 12- 24 hours. Therefore, packers using Vidre+ can continue their normal handling process and treatment is done "in the background," saving 12-24 hours of handling time - produce can be shipped immediately.

Storage (food producers and distributors)

Vidre+ provides more flexibility of use in relation to all types of packing and storage units as it removes the need for airtight storage, allowing storage players with less sophisticated facilities to benefit from using 1-MCP

Having the ability to treat products in the box allows flexibility in not having to fill a room first before applying the 1-MCP. For many producers, filling a storage room can take several days before it is ready for treatment with first-generation products.

With seasonal fruits and vegetables, there are significant price variations, with low prices occurring during times of high supply. It can make business sense to store some of the seasonal fruits and vegetables and sell the produce at a time of higher margins. Vidre+ allows packers to store their fruits for extended periods without sacrificing quality.

Using Vidre + in some fruits and vegetables allows storing the products at higher temperatures without sacrificing quality, which can add significant energy savings for the storage facility.

Transportation (distributors)

With Vidre+, fruits and vegetables are protected during shipment and arrive at their destination with higher quality than untreated fruit.

Using Vidre+ also protects produce from times when the cold chain has not been adequately maintained, which translates to less waste in the transportation process.

Also, since there is no need for treatment in a storage room for 12-24 hours, transportation can start sooner, allowing more perishable produce to be shipped sooner.

Due to the prolonged freshness of produce, new geographical markets are now available - e.g., the US market for Spanish growers or SE Asia markets to Chilean growers.

Retail (distributors, retailers)

With a longer shelf life of produce, retail players can increase their profitability via increased sales, maintaining quality and reducing the costs with less “shrink” (unsold produce)

Vidre+ produce keeps the visual appeal of fruits and vegetables longer, thereby increasing the appeal to customers for a longer time, giving the retailer and distributors a better reputation and the customer an excellent quality product.

Consumer

The final customer receives better quality produce, higher nutrition, and reduced waste from the benefits of Vidre + throughout the value chain.

Purchased produce maintains quality for longer period for the customer.

Impact 

Our technology has a big impact on food-waste problems (ESG compliant), as it significantly reduces spoilage, and thus reduces waste of water and energy used to produce crops that never get consumed.

The technology has a threefold positive impact:

1. CleanTech impact: saves on CO2 emissions, water consumption, energy consumption and food waste,
2. People Positive impact: healthier, more affordable nutrition and reducing world shortages of fresh food,
3. Land positive: land being utilized more efficiently and sustainably.

The climate effects are massive – ca. 185.4 million tons of 11 targeted fruit and vegetables in 26 target countries are produced each year. Thanks to Vidre+, 5.1% of this volume will not be wasted and, as a result, carbon footprint will be lower by ca. 4.6 million tonnes of CO2 each year which is equivalent to more than 860 k standard passenger vehicles' annual CO2 emissions.

Potential Business Partners: 

We are looking for an opportunity to reach with our products to:

• post-harvest companies,
• fruit and vegetable growers, packers and distributors,
• cut flowers growers, packers and distributors,
• retailer chains,
• packaging producers,
• foil and stickers converters

We are open for:

• investment opportunities
• joint ventures
• distribution agreements

Company Info:

Year of Establishment: 2018
No.   of Employees:      16