Giving Compass' Take:

• An innovative solution for food spoilage and food waste prevention was brought to market in the U.S. by Apeel Sciences last summer when they created an Avocado with double the shelf life.

• How can donors help support innovations like this one?  How can we collectively improve sustainability and reduce food spoilage?

• Here's an article on an innovative startup who is tackling industrial food waste. 

While spoilage can occur with many fresh fruits and vegetables, it is especially challenging to detect when thick-skinned produce, such as avocados, go bad. Not only is this disappointing as a consumer, but globally, at least one-third of all food is wasted before it can reach peoples’ plates.

Apeel Sciences, known for their plant-derived food waste prevention technology, is teaming up with Netherlands based Nature’s Pride to bring Apeel Avocados to European households. The Apeel Avocado has twice the usual shelf life thanks to a coating that is applied after harvesting. This unique plant-based coating slows water loss and oxidation—the factors that cause spoilage. “It is really encouraging that we can use plant-derived technology to prevent food waste before it happens,” says Michelle Masek, Head of Marketing for Apeel Sciences, to Food Tank. In their U.S. rollout, Apeel Sciences saw a 50 percent reduction in food waste at the retail level in the avocado category, and they hope to see the same success in Europe. “We know preventing food waste is good for the planet but it turns out it’s actually really good business too,” adds Masek.

Read the full article on the Apeel Avocado by Laura Schwebel at Food Tank.