REFAL Hackathon: “Maximizing the value of apple biomass”
REFAL Group integrates fruit and vegetable producers from the Sandomierz area, one of the key Polish apple growing regions, where fruit growing has been present for many generations. The REFAL Group is engaged in the storage, sorting and sale of apples and other fruits and vegetables. The area of orchards of the Group members is over 250 ha, while apple production is approx. 15,000 tons per year.
In recent years, fruit and vegetable producers have been increasingly experiencing adverse weather conditions such as spring frosts or hail. This results in the loss or significant reduction of the yield of fresh market apples (apples for direct consumption). Customers do not accept apples with damage caused by frost and hail, despite the fact that the flesh of these fruits does not differ from apples not affected by such weather phenomena. The result is a significant loss of value of such fruits, which are then sent – at unit prices, as for the so-called drops – to plants producing juices or concentrates. Looking at numbers, usually approx. 15% – 20% of apples are not suitable for direct sale. In the case of frost or hail damages, this amount increases to approx. 30% – 40%. This could mean even 6 000 000 kg of apple biomass per year needing valorisation!
Being well aware of the increasing technological advancements, economic importance and development opportunities offered by bioeconomy processes – REFAL is looking for innovative ideas to increase the value of sound biomass from apples damaged by adverse weather conditions.
Observing the dynamic development of the bioeconomy and constantly emerging market of organic origin substances, chemical molecules, materials, semi-finished products and consumer products – REFAL is interested in making investments and implementing appropriate new production line using apple biomass. Undoubtedly, promising directions for the use of apple biomass (apart from the standard production of juices and concentrates) include fruit drying, freeze-drying, production of pectin, drop-in platform chemicals, fragrance extracts, additives for cosmetics and medicines. REFAL is of course open also to other innovative proposals and ideas within this Hackathon, in particular in the field of biorefinery and extraction of high-value chemical compounds from apple biomass.
Depending on the degree of the innovativeness and economic profitability of the presented ideas and solutions – the REFAL Group is interested in the joint preparation and implementation of an investment in a completely new type of production line using biomass from apples. REFAL currently has a free production space that can be used for a new investment project. It is possible to expand the existing plant and create a new production facility. REFAL seeks for a long-term cooperation with the solution provider / external company interested in the joint development of such a future – oriented project.
How are we going to evaluate the submitted solutions?
The solutions will be evaluated according to the following key criteria:
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- Profitability and value creation from biomass (potential to increase the value of the apple biomass; ROI);
- Innovativeness (novelty and originality of the presented solution);
- Scalability of the solution (possibility to use other types of biomass and create new value chains regionally);
- Market readiness for the new products or solutions;
- Feasibility to implement the solution to REFAL operations;
- Capacity of the solution provider to enter into co-operation and to jointly implement the proposal;
- Positive impact on the amount of fruit reaching the REFAL cold stores and sorting plants .
The Hackathon Jury will consist of representatives of the REFAL Group, the PRO CIVIS Foundation – the Hackathon organizer, and selected experts.
Targi Kielce Hackathon is implemented and supported as part of the project “BioBoosters – boosting the circular transition” (https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/bioboosters/). The aim of this international project is to increase the level of innovation of entrepreneurs bioeconomy and circular economy. Project Partners coming from from 7 countries from the Baltic Sea Region (Finland, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Polish) will carry out a total of 18 hackathons dedicated to the bioeconomy sector. The BioBoosters project is co-financed by the Interreg – Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027 programme.
