The objective of PLAMINPACK is the development of anti-microbial packaging materials suitable for producing nets, films and trays for perishable food based on biopolymers and molecules from plants' agricultural waste.
Three representative perishable Mediterranean fruits were selected for testing the different packaging: tangerine for net, dates and strawberry for film and tray.
The anti-microbial and anti-oxidant molecules will be extracted from the three plants waste. Anti-microbial chitosan will be obtained by bioconversion of plants waste through biotechnology based on rearing Hermetia Illucens insects.
The packaging will be tested in terms of anti-microbial properties and shelf-life tests onto tangerine, strawberry and date.
Two interesting potential tools will be developed: a database to connect plant waste with quality and amount of extracts; digital twin applied to fruit ripening and packaging, in view of developing a predictive machine learning instrument.
Life Cycle Assessment will be carried out for the new packaging. The behaviour of the packaging at its end-of-life (organic and mechanical recycling), its stability and potential releases will be considered as well.
A training program and a dissemination based on the involvement of stakeholders will diffuse the interdisciplinary and multicultural knowledge. Thus, PLAMINPACK project will develop not only an anti-microbial packaging but also a model for Mediterranean farmers and food companies based on full circularity to accelerate the much-needed transition towards a green economy, thus contributing to the European Green Deal.
Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) organized UCA Innovation Week 2026, an event dedicated to promoting research, innovation, and knowledge transfer by bringing together researchers, students, and socio-economic stakeholders. The initiative aimed to highlight innovative projects, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and showcase scientific advances addressing current societal and environmental challenges.
As part of this event, Prof. Guendouz and Aboudia team participated through the presentation of two scientific posters. The first poster presented Doha Quebouch’s PhD research work, while the second featured a PLAMINPCK project presentation, with a few minor updates made for the occasion.
On 4 June 2026, a keynote lecture on PLAMINPACK’s activities in biopolymer and composite processing was delivered at the PPS-41 Congress in Paestum, Salerno.
The paper "Optimised Extraction of Bioactives from Strawberry Lignocellulosic Byproducts for Edible Active Coatings in Fresh Fruits Preservation" has been published today: another important achievement from PLAMINPACK project