This proposal focuses on the preparation of biocoatings enriched with varying percentages of mint essential oil nanoparticles, followed by their application to potato tubers to limit sprouting and control the development of alkaloids, particularly solanine, a toxic substance for the body.
The biocoatings are based on natural polysaccharides such as alginates, agar, modified starches, cellulose derivatives, and chitin derivatives, either alone or in combinations. Variable concentrations of nanoemulsions of essential oils, particularly mint, are added as active compounds to prevent sprouting and inhibit the development of glycoalkaloids during potato storage.
The experimentation involved monitoring weight, antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, alkaloid content, and morphological evaluation for up to 45 days. The results confirmed that the coating, especially with 10% mint essential oil, prevents germination, controls alkaloid development, preserves weight, and maintains antioxidant activity, showing values similar to the initial product.
The proposal to develop edible biocoatings for the preservation of potatoes is highly relevant today, as it uses sustainable materials of non-petroleum origin, while also increasing the shelf life of potatoes, thus reducing food waste. The Actipres technology is low-cost and can generate significant economic profit for potato businesses. The biocoating incurs a cost of two cents per kilogram and one cent per kilogram related to labor and application technologies, meaning the additional cost per quintal of potatoes is around €3.00. In Italy, the potential customers processing fresh products are just under 300 agro-industrial companies with volumes exceeding 80,000 quintals of fresh potatoes. In Europe, the target market, as consumers are sensitive to health issues and organic consumption, the potential market value exceeds 100 million euros. The break-even point for the industrial plan is achieved with a turnover of 1.5 million euros, a target that could be reached within 12-18 months from the start of the industrial plan.
Italy