The coating slows spoilage and reduces post-harvest food loss, and the innovation aims to turn surplus food into a tool for improving food security. The approach targets losses that occur after harvest but before consumption. Researchers say reducing spoilage could improve access to food without increasing production.

Credits: Getty Images; Author: @Didier Marti;

Food waste is a major contributor to food insecurity, making preservation technologies critical. The system is made using natural compounds derived from food waste, and it works by protecting produce from microbes that cause decay.