Colourful fruit and vegetables that look nicer and last longer is every shopper’s dream. With the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reckoning that more than a third of the food we buy is wasted every year, new kid on the block AgroSustain is developing several processes designed to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. A minor food industry revolution!
The history of the start-up AgroSustain begins in the laboratories at the University of Lausanne, where a young biology post-doctorate student called Olga Dubey was conducting research on the diseases affecting different plants. She discovered a naturally occurring compound that suppresses the phytopathogenic fungi that damage many different fruits and vegetables. Enterprising by nature, Olga Dubey decided to take her discovery further and in 2018 founded a company to develop her solution.
Two irons in the fire at AgroSustain
The first compound being developed in the start-up’s Lausanne lab is a natural fungicide designed to protect many crops against the different kinds of mould that damage them out in the fields. But it’s not ready yet: it takes between five and seven years to develop a biological fungicide. “We plan to get this product on the market by 2027,” says Olga Dubey.
Following numerous discussions with its customers, AgroSustain has decided to diversify. The start-up now specialises in natural coatings, developing a process for spraying fruit and vegetables immediately after harvest. The effect is startling: it extends the shelf life of these foods by anything from a few days to more than a month, depending on the product.
Many European distributors and retailers have already adopted this technology, which is revolutionising agribusiness. “Food waste is one of the biggest problems of the 21st century. We want to do our bit to improve the situation, developing this project to reduce food waste by enabling fruit and vegetables to last longer in better condition,” says the young entrepreneur.
With this natural coating solution already commercially available in several European countries, the hope is that it will catch on across the pond too. “At the moment we have a presence in Europe. We want to strengthen our position there and grow, by branching out to the American market and elsewhere,” says Olga Dubey. Competition in the natural coatings market is fierce but AgroSustain is holding a trump card: its product is incredibly effective. It works on more than 20 crops, compared to competitors’ solutions which are used on just a handful of specific harvests.
Several ambitious projects in the pipeline
Having obtained various European subsidies for its research in 2020 and 2021, AgroSustain has its sights set firmly on the future. And it’s not short of ideas. Currently in the middle of a fundraising campaign, the start-up hopes to convince Swiss and European investors that its process will deliver. At the same time, it is working on broadening its offering in Germany and France.
Developing its biological fungicide is another of the company’s flagship projects. Whereas most pesticides can be toxic to the environment and to human health, the natural solution patented by AgroSustain promises precisely the opposite. Its arrival on the market in 2027 is set to significantly reduce the negative environmental impact of the synthetic pesticides used by farmers.
The 14-strong team at AgroSustain therefore have plenty on their plate over the coming months. But with their shared passion for sustainability and the environment they will meet these future challenges together, coming up with environmentally friendly solutions for tomorrow’s food crops.
