Scalable Technology Converting Fruit By-products to Functional Food Ingredients
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Singapore has a high consumption of fruits and vegetables, both locally produced and imported, and a significant portion of the total waste generated is derived from fruits and vegetables. These fruits and vegetables contain untapped nutritional and functional properties that can be upcycled into higher value products. This institute of higher learning has developed a technology with the know-how to cultivate microorganisms and a series of zero-waste extraction and purification methods to maximize the value of fruit peels into functional food ingredients.
This technology is designed for three types of industry players: i) fruit vending/processing industry with abundance of good quality fruit by-products; ii) waste management industry with technologies to value add to the by-products; and iii) start-ups with keen interest to upcycle by-products into novel food ingredients.
TECHNOLOGY FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS
The technology is a sustainable process and here are some key features:
- Zero waste solution – achieving circular economy
- Low-carbon economy, reduced waste during manufacturing
- Easy to assemble using off-the-shelf commercial-ready equipment
- Low CAPEX, modular installation
- Simple method – any technician with basic training and carry out the process
- Scalable – abundance of fruit by-products to achieve economies of scale
A reactor for pilot scale testing at a reasonable cost has been fabricated for collaborators to tap on.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
The primary application for this device would be for the processing of blood smears staining, required in routine laboratory tests especially the complete blood count. This test is routinely conducted to help diagnose and monitor many diseases such as anemia, blood disorders, certain infections such as malaria and treatment for leukemic cancers. Other potential applications include integrating this core technology into the creation of innovative new products, such as a tissue staining machine for pathology and/or an automated stain machine for bacteria detection for conditions such as tuberculosis.
UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION
Good quality fruit by-products from fruit industry are valuable resources for upcycling. These materials are currently disposed by incineration. With the high moisture content of fruit peels, incineration is energy-intensive leading to higher CO2 emission. This technology produces valuable food ingredients such as protein and dietary fiber, contributing to both food security and circular economy.
