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.
On 2 July, the PLAMINPACK consortium gathered at the AgroParisTech URD ABI facilities in Pomacle, near Reims, for its 24-month project meeting. The event brought together project partners to review the progress achieved so far, discuss the next steps, and coordinate activities for the final phase of the project.
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Ahead of the PLAMINPACK consortium meeting, partners had the opportunity to visit the Cristanol biorefinery in the Champagne region of France, thanks to the generous hospitality of Florant Allais, Morad Chadni, and Clémence Rotolo from AgroParisTech URD ABI.
As part of the activities surrounding the PLAMINPACK meeting, participants had the opportunity to visit the URD ABI laboratories at AgroParisTech in Pomacle.