Apeel Sciences | WFP Innovation

Apeel Sciences offers technology that keeps fruits and vegetables fresh for a longer period, minimizing food waste. In Kenya, the project ... Skiptomaincontent Projectoverview ApeelSciencesofferstechnologythatkeepsfruitsandvegetablesfreshforalongerperiod,minimizingfoodwaste.InKenya,theprojectaimstosupportsmallholderfarmersbyopeningnewexportmarketopportunitiesforavocadoswithalongshelflife.     Theproblem One-thirdoffoodproducedforconsumptiongetswastedglobally,particularlyfreshproduce,duetoitshighperishability. Atthesametime,freshfruitsandvegetablescanoffermuchlargerincomeopportunitiesforsmallholderfarmersthanstaplecrops,andthedemandforfreshproductsisincreasingaroundtheworld.Thechallengeisthatgrowingfreshproduceisonlybeneficialiffarmerscanaccessmarketsandtheproductscansurvivethejourney,maintainingtheirqualityandfreshness.   SimonLokitaungharvestsbananasonhisfarminTurkana,Kenya,on6December2021.Photo: WFP/Arete/FredrikLerneryd.  Thesolution ApeelScienceshasdevelopedanedibleplant-derivedcoatingcalled"Edipeel".Appliedafterharvest,Edipeelslowswaterlossandoxidationinfruitsandvegetables,keepingthemfreshforlonger. Withalongerproductshelflifeandamoreresilientsupplychain,thereisanopportunityforsmallholderfarmersandaggregatorstoaccessmarketsandbenefitfrombetterpricingfortheirproducts.   Apeel-protectedavocadosmaintaintheirqualityandfreshnessformuchlongeratBiofarmsPackhouse,Nairobi,Kenya. Photo:WFP/DreamcatcherProductions.  Thewayforward ThroughouttheWFPSprintProgramme,ApeelScienceswillvalidatewhethertheirvaluepropositioncanincreaseincomeforfarmersandtheviabilityofthismarketapproachinsub-SaharanAfrica. TheprojectteamisworkingwithKenyanaggregatorsandWFP’sFarmtoMarketAlliance toreducepost-harvestlossesandimproveincomeopportunitiesforKenyanfarmers.FactorscausingthespoilageoffreshproduceareaddressedusingtheEdipeeltechnology.   SolomonMuthee,aFarmtoMarketAlliance(FtMA)aggregatorinMeruCounty,Kenya,collectspotatoproducefromafarmer.Photo:WFP/FtMA/EastmanEmpire.  Lastupdated: 02/03/2022 Previousproject Nextproject ReceiveUpdates Subscribe Thankyou!Yoursubmissionhasbeenreceived! Thanks,butyouarealreadysignedup Oops!Somethingwentwrongwhilesubmittingtheform