Westfalia Fruit trials AgroSustain's Afondo bio-boating for more sustainable avocado and lime supply chains

Global avocado powerhouse Westfalia Fruit is collaborating with agri-tech company AgroSustain to maintain crop quality and reduce food loss and chemical residues across the fresh produce supply chain.

Explorations into the potential of AgroSustain’s edible coating, Afondo, to extend the shelf-life of avocados started in 2022, and over the last three years, the companies have conducted initial trials in Colombia, Chile, and Peru.

Current trials focus on avocados and limes, with Afondo demonstrating a reduction in post-harvest fungicide use by at least 50 percent and a significant decrease in supply chain waste. The coating is compatible with existing machinery, and if planned in advance, should result in minimal disruption on packing lines.

Westfalia's bet on sustainable food coating

Following several years of successful trials, Westfalia began commercial trials with selected customers, with the opportunity to expand into additional markets. Customers have shown strong interest in solutions that do not affect flavor and significantly reduce food loss and chemical residues. 

“Our collaboration with AgroSustain reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and delivering high-quality produce to our customers," says Andrew Mitchell, Head of Innovation at Westfalia Fruit. "In a dynamic market, we believe Afondo delivers better value and results than other coatings available on the market and will shortly be extending trials to other European markets.”

“Working with Westfalia has been a collaborative and inspiring journey,” said Olga Dubey, CEO of AgroSustain. “Together, we are optimizing supply chain integration and preparing to launch a bio-coating for organic crops in the near future.”

Afondo’s proven efficacy across a wide range of crops—including passion fruit, mangoes, citrus, nectarines, and cherries—opens new opportunities for both local and international growers and distributors to extend shelf-life while reducing reliance on chemical treatments.

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