The ever-growing global population and the related simultaneous increase in food demand have dramatic consequences on the environment. The impact of food loss and waste, together with the footprint of plastics used for food packaging, have raised the need for sustainable solutions. In the past, packaging was often overlooked or simply disregarded as waste, nowadays it is an integral component of the modern-day food production system, necessary to guarantee a high level of food quality and safety along the supply chain. Current requirements for food packaging are also linked to the use of environmentally friendly materials. Therefore, the use of biodegradable active and sustainable derived packaging materials, able to promote food preservation while avoiding plastic waste accumulation, is becoming urgent. In the case of fresh meat, the packaging should preserve the food matrix, chemical and physical quality, and reduce the presence of spoiling microorganisms.

The main objective of the MATE4MEAT project is to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for Mediterranean agro-food systems, to prevent food spoilage and prolong its shelf life. Safety and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic packaging materials will be developed, with the focus on vacuum and non-vacuum active meat packaging systems. The developed innovative packaging materials shall significantly contribute to the reduction of spoilage and petrochemical materials use, less packaging waste as well as enhanced product safety. We propose different bio-based approaches addressing antimicrobial efficacy focusing on both bioactive molecules and biopolymers.

Project website: www.mate4meat.com

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