California-based Akorn Technology becomes the first US company to win the UAE FoodTech Challenge
California-based edible film expert Akorn Technology is officially the first American company to win the UAE FoodTech Challenge. As a result, the firm’s work was recognized as one of the world’s leading agri-tech solutions for reducing food waste.
The UAE FoodTech Challenge is a global competition that identifies, supports, and scales innovative agricultural technologies to transform food production and reduce waste.
The winners were announced during Abu Dhabi’s Sustainability Week, an event for stakeholders in green development and renewable energy. Akorn Technology shares the award with global startups Permia Sensing, HyveGeo, and Flybox, who will divide a $2 million prize. Winners will also receive technical support, pilot opportunities, global market access, and incubation services from the United Arab Emirates.
Akorn Technology CEO Anthony Zografos described the award as an honor and stated that the funds and support will help Akorn to establish research and production capabilities in the Middle East and pilot its products over the next 12 to 18 months.
“We already have handshake agreements with growers in South Africa and Southeast Asia to test our products, and we will move these projects forward immediately,” he added.
Meet Akorn Technology’s award-winning edible films
The Berkeley-based company won for its plant-based postharvest coatings, which preserve fruit, slow its ripening, and reduce moisture loss.
Growers, shippers, and distributors can apply the coatings both manually at the plantation and automatically at the packinghouse. According to Zografos, the product doubles the shelf life of highly perishable products such as mangos, prolonging post-harvest survival from 10 to 20 days.
The film is also easy to apply. For setups without conveyors or a cold chain, producers can spray the product post-harvest. In cases where growers or packers want to automate the process, the CEO said they also offer equipment and installation.
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Plant-based edible film coatings: a sustainable solution to cut food waste and plastic use
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