Key Takeaways:
- Janssen PMP and Fresh Inset have partnered to commercialize the innovative Vidre+ technology in Europe.
- Vidre+ technology uses 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to extend the freshness and shelf life of fruits and vegetables.
- The technology is designed to work within existing packaging systems, offering flexibility for growers, packers, distributors, and retailers.
- Vidre+ has been proven to benefit various crops, including apples, pears, grapes, and broccoli.
- The partnership aims to reduce food waste while improving produce quality and profitability for the supply chain.
Janssen PMP, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, and Fresh Inset have formed an exclusive partnership to commercialize Fresh Inset’s Vidre+ technology in Europe. The Vidre+ technology is designed to enhance the shelf life and quality of fruits and vegetables during storage, transportation, and retail display.
Vidre+ Technology Overview
Vidre+ technology utilizes 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a compound known for its ability to counteract the effects of ethylene, a natural ripening hormone in produce. Fresh Inset has developed the technology with gradual release and dose rate flexibility, allowing it to be applied through Vidre+ stickers, pads, or directly on packaging. Vidre+ helps extend the freshness and shelf life of fruits and vegetables by preventing ethylene from binding to receptors, thus slowing the ripening process.
The technology can be applied to a wide range of packaging, such as clamshells, sealed punnets, and liner bags, without altering existing packaging and shipping processes.
Application in the Fresh Produce Supply Chain
The Vidre+ technology has been tested on various crops, including apples, pears, table grapes, berries, kiwi, and broccoli. It is designed to maintain produce quality and freshness during post-harvest handling, transportation, and display, providing flexibility for growers, packers, distributors, and retailers.
According to Geoffroy de Chabot-Tramecourt, Director of R&D and Business Development at Janssen PMP, Vidre+ offers fresh produce stakeholders additional flexibility by integrating 1-MCP technology without requiring changes to existing workflows.
Benefits for Stakeholders
Vidre+ provides growers, packers, distributors, and retailers with a management tool to deliver fresh produce year-round. It is intended to help reduce food losses and prolong the shelf life of produce from storage to supermarket display.
Krzysztof Czaplicki, Chief Strategy Officer at Fresh Inset, stated that the Vidre+ technology will contribute to making high-quality produce available for retailers and consumers.
This partnership between Janssen PMP and Fresh Inset will focus on leveraging Vidre+ technology to enhance the freshness and shelf life of fresh produce in Europe.