Plant-Based Coatings Extending Freshness in Postharvest Handling

Based in Switzerland, AgroSustain develops plant-based edible coatings designed to preserve the freshness and quality of fruit, vegetables and flowers after harvest. Its Afondo line offers a natural alternative to conventional treatments, helping to reduce water loss and food waste while extending shelf life across the supply chain. Developed in close collaboration with growers and packers, these coatings bring together scientific precision and practical application within commercial postharvest operations. To date, AgroSustain has demonstrated the efficacy of its technology through collaborations with market leaders such as Westfalia Fruit.

Afondo: a natural approach to postharvest quality

At the core of AgroSustain’s portfolio is Afondo, a food-grade edible coating formulated with plant-based ingredients. It creates an invisible, odourless and tasteless layer that limits water loss, enhances product firmness and maintains the fruit’s visual quality during storage and transport. By replacing traditional synthetic coatings and fungicides, Afondo helps reduce waste and ensures a more sustainable route from farm to market.

The technology is available for fruits, vegetables and flowers, with formulations adapted to each category’s specific needs. The coatings can be applied by spraying or dipping, making them easy to incorporate into existing postharvest lines without additional investment.

For fruits, Afondo has been in use since 2022, achieving measurable reductions in fungal pressure and extending cold storage life by up to three weeks. The vegetable coating, introduced in 2023, focuses on preserving taste, minimising plastic packaging and reducing losses throughout the supply chain. For flowers, Afondo maintains colour, fragrance and freshness during storage and distribution, helping producers and retailers optimise logistics while offering longer vase life and improved presentation.

For fruits, Afondo has been in use since 2023 all around Europe, selected countries in LATAM and Africa, achieving measurable reductions in the replacement of post-harvest treatments and extending cold storage life by up to three weeks. The vegetable coating, introduced in 2025, focuses on preserving taste, minimising plastic packaging and reducing losses throughout the supply chain. So far, this product is used in Switzerland and other selected countries in LATAM. For flowers, Afondo maintains colour, fragrance and freshness during storage and distribution, helping producers and retailers optimise logistics while offering longer vase life and improved presentation.

Next generation: organic biocoatings

Building on these results, AgroSustain is developing a new generation of organic biocoatings aimed at organically grown crops. These next-level formulations use only organic components and provide similar benefits in water loss reduction, taste preservation and waste minimisation. The coatings are currently undergoing efficacy trials and are expected to receive certification in selected regions within the next 12 to 18 months.

Sustainable innovation for global markets

AgroSustain’s technologies are already in use across Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Africa. Their adoption is growing among exporters and packers who aim to meet strict residue standards while maintaining product quality. By providing an easy-to-apply, natural alternative to conventional waxes and fungicides, these coatings help reduce operational complexity and environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

Through its continuous research and partnerships with growers and packers, AgroSustain is expanding the use of its coatings to new crops and regions. The company aims to make sustainable postharvest protection a practical, everyday tool for producers, helping them deliver safer, longer-lasting fruit with a smaller environmental footprint.

More information