Study exchange bears fruit

Fruits and vegetables have the highest wastage rates of any food, partly due to microbes and fungi that spoil the produce. Maria’s idea was sparked by a desire to find a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging materials that slow the spoilage process.

A literature search uncovered several papers that described work to develop a protective coating to preserve fruit—but none that used the main ingredient of Maria’s application. Armed with the knowledge gained from these papers, she got to work in the kitchen with her chosen ingredients.

No amount of sweet talking can get her to disclose what the coating is made up of. “That is—of course—a business secret,” Maria says with a glint in her eye.

When travel restrictions eased in mid-2021, student exchanges resumed, and Maria was finally able to travel to DTU for a semester under the tutelage of Associate Professor Seyed Soheil Mansouri at DTU Chemical Engineering, Professor Solange I. Mussatto at DTU Bioengineering and Associate Professor Wenjing Zhang at DTU Sustain.

At DTU she was able to continue her experiments in the laboratory.

“I measured how the strawberries ripened after the treatment. This could be weight changes because of water loss and changes in pH as they became more acidic,” she explains. Maria was able to document that the coating inhibited the growth of microbes and fungi.

Unlocking new opportunities

Normally, strawberries that are stored in the refrigerator can be kept for three to five days. The experiments have shown very promising results, in some cases extending the shelf life up to nine days.

Work is underway to obtain a patent and the goal is to start a DTU spinout that can commercialize the invention. Interested investors are lining up to get on board.

The expectation is that the coating can extend the shelf life of other foods, such as synthetic meat products that go off much faster than actual meat products. Naturally, further work is needed to document the efficacy of the coating on other products before marketing for such applications.

Maria will be able to take part in this next phase to develop and improve on the concept, as she has been given a scholarship to study towards a master’s degree at DTU. She has already arrived back in Denmark ready for semester start and she is excited for the opportunity.

Associate Professor Seyed Soheil Mansouri sees Maria’s story as a perfect example of the type of person who can benefit from DTU’s study exchange programmes: “Any student who is determined, ambitious, and willing to work hard is given a genuine opportunity.”

He says one of the main benefits for students coming to DTU is being able to tap into the university’s ability and desire to collaborate across departments—and the extensive networks staff have with partners off campus opens, which open doors to great opportunities.

As such, during Maria’s stay, the laboratory experiments were carried out under the supervision of Solange I. Mussatto. "Combining the competences of groups from different DTU departments was crucial to help Maria to develop the technology,” the Professor says.

Using his connection with Christian Beenfeldt at Knowledge Hub Zealand, Seyed Soheil Mansouri also managed to get Maria linked up with local industry players with an interest in applications that can extend the shelf life of foods.

These working relationships proved vital for her efforts to improve on the original concept. “If she had just worked with me, she might have ended up in the same place that she started in her kitchen,” Seyed Soheil Mansouri says with a laugh.

As for Maria, her top tip for succeeding with a project – even when life throws a spanner in the works – is this: “Be in love with the idea! Have a passion for it and pursue it, listen to experts’ opinions, and consider new ideas that can improve on it.”

Opportunities for studying abroad

While many people who have studied abroad can testify that adjusting to a new climate, culture and cuisine can be a challenge at times, Maria is still adamant it’s an opportunity not to be missed: “If you are fulfilling your dreams, I think it’s so worth it.”

In fact, going on exchange is seen as an integrated part of DTU’s programmes and there are many good reasons to study abroad: Learning in a different research environment, creating an international network and improving on language skills.

Each year, DTU welcomes hundreds of international exchange students. Learn more about what it’s like to be an exchange student at DTU.

Danish students also have ample opportunities to spend time abroad during their studies at DTU. Find more information on our website: Studying abroad.