LiMiT - Living Materials to prevenT spoilage of harvested fruits and vegetables

Research Project, 2023 – 2025

The project aims to develop a new living material in which yeast can produce biogenic volatiles, which prevents molds from spoiling harvested fruits and vegetables. By incorporating the material into packages with fresh produce, it will help to reduce the enormous amount of fruits and vegetables that are thrown away each year, and thereby contributing to the development of a more resource-efficient and sustainable food system.Several yeast species are highly effective in inhibiting growth of molds, but our understanding of this phenomena is severely limited, and the application possibilities are still largely unexplored. Here, we will characterize in detail how different yeasts inhibit molds, identify which volatiles they produce and how we can create a sustainable and safe material that promotes the yeast´s production of these volatiles. We will next incorporate the best performing yeast in 3D printed material prototypes and test the effect of these on fresh produce inoculated with molds and then stored in closed packages.Living materials is a relatively new field of research with sky-high potential, and the current and future demand for sustainable methods that inhibit post-harvest molds is enormous. The project consortium consists of experts in microbiology, material and food science as well as food safety regulations and industrial aspects, which enables an interdisciplinary and innovative approach to solve one of society´s truly great challenges – reducing food waste.