Press release
**Press Release
**Launch of the FRUITPRINT Project, a European programme aimed at making the post-harvest preservation of fruit and vegetables more sustainable.
We are delighted to announce the launch of the FRUITPRINT project, a European initiative aimed at tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time: feeding a growing world population while reducing the carbon footprint of food production activities.
**Background and objectives**
The FRUITPRINT project addresses the need to control the post-harvest preservation of fruit and vegetables, an essential source of nutrients, particularly in the context of reducing meat consumption due to its high environmental impact. Current preservation technologies, such as controlled atmosphere and the use of chemicals such as 1-MCP, although effective, consume a lot of energy and can alter the organoleptic qualities of food products.
FRUITPRINT aims to identify new bioactive molecules to improve storage and limit post-harvest losses, while reducing energy consumption. The project will be carried out in three main stages:
- Identification of new bioactive molecules by in silico and in vitro screening.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the selected molecules in post-harvest storage.
- Research into the molecular basis of the effects of these molecules.
**Multidisciplinary** approach
FRUITPRINT is based on multidisciplinary approaches and the complementary expertise of its partners in virtual screening, oxygen detection, fruit physiology and post-harvest storage. The project will use innovative technologies such as a high-throughput screening platform, bioluminescent plants and protein biosensors for in vivo screening.
**Funding and collaboration**
FRUITPRINT is a European MSCA-SE (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions - Staff Exchange) project, funded as part of the Horizon Europe programme and coordinated by the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (Toulouse INP). It involves a consortium of twelve organisations and supports staff exchanges between academic and non-academic organisations. This international, cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility encourages the transfer of knowledge between the participating organisations, reinforcing the network concept at the heart of the project.
**Duration of the project
The FRUITPRINT project will run from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028. The kick-off meeting took place in Toulouse on 28 January 2025, bringing together more than 30 participants representing the 12 project partners.
**Conclusion
The FRUITPRINT project marks an important step towards a future where food production is both sustainable and able to meet the needs of a growing world population. We look forward to sharing the progress and results of this innovative project with the public.
For more information, please contact Dr Julien Pirrello at julien.pirrello@toulouse-inp.fr or visit our website at https://fruit-print-project.inp-toulouse.fr/.
**About FRUITPRINT
FRUITPRINT is a European project aiming to innovate in the post-harvest storage of fruit and vegetables to reduce the carbon footprint and food losses. Funded by the Horizon Europe programme, it brings together experts from various fields to develop sustainable and effective solutions.
