Akorn Technology is one of four winners of the global UAE FoodTech Challenge, receiving honors for its edible fresh produce coating designed to reduce waste.
The Berkeley, Calif.-based company was selected from over 1,200 entries from 113 countries while also becoming the first U.S. company to ever win the challenge.
Akorn will share a $2 million prize package and gain access to the United Arab Emirates’ innovation ecosystem to scale its solutions globally.
Solving the Global Food Waste Crisis
Akorn’s mission addresses a critical gap in the food system: An estimated 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail, with another 19% wasted by consumers. To combat this, Akorn developed a 100% natural, edible coating for fresh produce.
The coating uses a unique three-part system:
- Vegetable protein to slow the ripening process.
- Plant-based wax to reduce moisture loss and dehydration.
- Vegetable oil to maintain vibrant color without altering taste or quality.
Beyond longevity, the company recently developed an all-natural fungicidal coating that it says reduces green and blue mold on citrus by over 90% without the use of chemicals. For retailers, these advancements translate to a 20% to 30% reduction in shrink.
Seamless Integration for Growers
A key advantage of Akorn’s technology is its ease of adoption. The coating can be integrated directly into existing waxing lines at packing houses, requiring no changes to current postharvest workflows, according to the company.
“We are not in the business of introducing more chemicals; we are in the business of displacing chemicals from fruits and vegetables,” says Anthony Zografos, founder and CEO of Akorn Technology.
With the support of the FoodTech Challenge, Akorn plans to establish a research and production hub in the UAE within the next 12 to 18 months, using the region as a conduit to reach markets across the Global South.
The Packer sat down with Zografos to learn more.
The Packer: How is the coating applied at the packinghouse? Can it be integrated into existing wash or waxing lines, and does it require any specialized equipment or changes to current postharvest workflows?
Zografos: The coating can be very easily integrated into waxing lines and requires no change in postharvest workflows. We use the same waxing lines presently used for the legacy chemical waxes. In addition, we have developed new methods that facilitate application while the fruit is still in bins. This enables the application of our new storage coatings, which extend cold storage time while minimizing dehydration and decay. We are even working on methods to apply the treatments on the farm or plantation, immediately after harvest, which is critical in many situations in the Global South.
While the solution is for fruit and vegetables, which specific high-value commodities have shown the most significant shelf-life extension in your trials, and by how many days does it typically delay senescence (ripening)?
Our solutions are suitable for a very broad range of fruits and vegetables, and they benefit everyone in the supply chain, including growers/packers, retailers and consumers. The biggest benefit is realized when they are applied to highly perishable fruits and vegetables such as pears, stone fruit, mangoes, avocados but also sweet potatoes and citrus. For these, we see reduction in spoilage during cold storage and transit by 50% or more. We see shelf-life extension by almost a factor of two.
For example, Bartlett pear shelf life is extended from four to five days to eight. For mangoes, we see extension from five to eight days to over 15. Finally, our newest solution, an all-natural fungicidal coating, reduces green and blue mold on citrus by over 90% with absolutely no chemicals used.
Retailers are increasingly sensitive to coatings. Is the Akorn solution considered organic-compliant or non-GMO, and how is it labeled for the end consumer?
We are just as sensitive to chemical-laden coatings, shrouded in mystery, as anyone, and that’s exactly the reason we started Akorn. We are not in the business of introducing more chemicals; we are in the business of displacing chemicals from fruits and vegetables. Our ingredients are 100% natural and derived from plants. We are completely transparent, and our products have been evaluated by many universities and customers worldwide and many papers have been published discussing the composition and the positive effects.
We comply with all relevant regulations worldwide and use only non-GMO ingredients. We may offer organic coatings in the future, but at present we only work with conventional. Our customers follow the very strict FDA [Food and Drug Administration] labeling regulations, which inform consumers that the product they consume has been treated with plant-derived waxes, oils and proteins to preserve freshness. This is really a winning proposition for everyone. The alternative is waste, which could reach 25% to 30%, shortages, higher prices and greater food insecurity. And nobody wants that.
What is the average percentage reduction in retail shrink you’ve observed in your current pilot markets?
Akorn’s coatings reduce shrink by roughly 20% to 30% by slowing dehydration and ripening and reducing decay. Of course, this improves in-stocks and profit while delivering labor savings and food waste reduction. Because application happens upstream at packhouses, retailers capture these shrink benefits without adding complexity or cost in the store. In practical terms, retailers love it when they get double the shelf life for popular but perishable produce, and shoppers benefit from having a day or two longer to eat their fruit at home.
As a Berkeley-based startup, what is the timeline for a broader commercial rollout to North American growers and retailers?
Although we are based in Berkeley, we collaborate with universities and other institutions worldwide, including several in the U.S. Up until recently, we had found our message for all-natural, chemical-free treatments for fruits and vegetables resonated more with customers in Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc. However, several retailers, most notably Walmart, recently introduced guidelines restricting the use of certain chemicals in their products. In addition, the U.S. administration’s focus on healthy nutrition and war against chemicals in food has dramatically changed the landscape, and we now find many U.S. growers and packers eager to consider changes to their practices.
This year, 2026, is when we plan our broad commercial rollout in North America.
You are currently operating in Egypt and Ghana. How will the cash prize help transition those learnings to U.S. domestic growers or shippers exporting to the Middle East?
First, I want to clarify that we operate in many countries, such as Peru, Brazil, Colombia and soon in more countries in West and South Africa and Southeast Asia. And this is exactly the focus of the FoodTech Challenge — to help us fine-tune and scale our solutions for the Global South. The UAE innovation ecosystem is very strong and gives us access to its global trade networks, which are invaluable for a company like us. As we understand the UAE requirements, we can help U.S. exporters meet them in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Let’s not forget that the UAE is part of the premium regional Gulf market and many exporters would like to access it; we can be part of the conduit.
