AgroSustain and Westfalia test Afondo on long-distance routes for tropical fruit

AgroSustain and Westfalia Fruit discussed the use of Afondo in international tropical fruit supply chains during the Fruitnet Tropicals Congress. Their presentation formed part of the session "Innovation Showcase: Better fruit: The tech changing sustainability, quality & freshness", which focused on technologies transforming fruit quality, freshness and sustainability.

In a discussion moderated by Maura Maxwell of Fruitnet, Olga Dubey, co-founder and CEO of AgroSustain, and Daniela Busseni, Global Head of Customer Marketing & Development at Westfalia Fruit, explained how the two companies are validating the integration of the edible coating across different origins and supply chains.

A partnership launched in 2022

AgroSustain and Westfalia Fruit began working together in 2022. Since then, development has progressed gradually, with the technology assessed origin by origin before its use is expanded.

Colombia was one of the first countries mentioned during the discussion. Trials and demonstrations were carried out there to assess Afondo under the specific production, handling and transport conditions associated with avocados.

Daniela Busseni explained that Westfalia's international presence requires this process to be carried out gradually, as each origin presents different agronomic, logistical and commercial conditions. Implementation therefore requires time, monitoring and validation before the technology can be adopted more widely.

Application at origin and integration into existing facilities

Afondo is a plant-based edible coating applied to fruit after harvest. AgroSustain works directly in producing countries, where the treatment can be incorporated through spraying systems integrated into postharvest facilities.

According to Olga Dubey, applying the coating at origin helps protect the fruit throughout the supply chain without adding further handling or additional processing stages at destination. The technology is designed to fit into existing facilities and adapt to the standard processes used in fruit and vegetable packinghouses.

The company also aims to ensure that Afondo does not simply become an additional treatment. Its approach involves assessing which products currently in use could be reduced or replaced, helping to limit extra costs and simplify postharvest handling.

AgroSustain and Westfalia Fruit during the session on technologies designed to improve fruit quality, freshness and sustainability

Eight weeks from Tanzania to Rotterdam

The discussion included the example of a trial carried out last year with avocados transported from Tanzania to Rotterdam. The route involves a supply chain lasting approximately eight weeks.

Dubey noted that, without solutions designed to extend shelf life, losses on journeys of this length can reach around 40%. Following the application of Afondo, the company observed more uniform fruit condition and a significant reduction in losses, although no specific improvement figure was provided during the session.

The case illustrates one of the main challenges facing the international tropical fruit trade: maintaining uniform condition over long periods of storage and transport, particularly in products that are sensitive to water loss, decay and changes in ripening.

Avocados, bananas and dragon fruit

Avocados are currently one of the main applications for Afondo within the partnership with Westfalia, but AgroSustain is also exploring its use on other tropical fruits.

Bananas and dragon fruit were mentioned during the discussion, as both categories may also travel long distances before completing the ripening process and reaching the consumer. According to the company, the challenges are similar: reducing dehydration, maintaining commercial quality and helping fruit reach the market in a more uniform condition.

Lucía Leal and Olga Dubey of AgroSustain at the company's stand during the Fruitnet Tropicals Congress 2026

An edible coating designed to reduce other treatments

Olga Dubey highlighted Afondo's edible nature as one of the solution's main distinguishing features. The AgroSustain co-founder pointed out that the sector promotes the health benefits of eating fruit, while a number of chemical treatments are still used during production and postharvest handling.

Against this background, she described the potential for an edible coating to help reduce or replace some of these products as particularly relevant. The solution is therefore presented not only as a tool for extending storage life, but also as a way of moving towards postharvest processes that are less dependent on conventional treatments.

Daniela Busseni added that this characteristic also creates an opportunity to explain more clearly to consumers why fruit needs protection as it travels from origin to the home. At the same time, this presents a communication challenge, as the reasons for applying a coating to fresh produce must be conveyed simply and transparently.

New solutions for field use and organic production

In addition to Afondo, AgroSustain presented a preharvest solution that acts as a kind of "sunscreen" for crops. Applied directly to the plant, it is intended to improve drought tolerance and reduce water requirements under stressful conditions.

The company is also developing a new biocoating for organic production, which is expected to enter the trial phase shortly. Together, these developments extend AgroSustain's work beyond postharvest preservation into crop protection and new solutions for organically produced fruit.

More information

Photo caption: From left to right, Maura Maxwell of Fruitnet; Olga Dubey, co-founder and CEO of AgroSustain; and Daniela Busseni, Global Head of Customer Marketing & Development at Westfalia Fruit, during the Innovation Showcase session at the Fruitnet Tropicals Congress 2026.