Safe Biodegradable Packaging (SafeBioPack)

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This project will underpin an UK-Malaysian "Research and Innovation" bridge to accelerate the deployment of knowledge and the exploitation of research that will a) improve the preservation of food during transport/ storage between the producer and the consumer (in urban settings), b) reduce urban solid waste from plastics going to landfill, and c) improve health and well being of the population by reducing risk of communicable diseases transmitted by foodborne pathogens in meat or vegetables. To achieve these objectives, the project will develop innovative sustainable packaging with improved shelf-life performance. The packaging system will be based on the use of cost-competitive, presently un-used agri-waste and the use of a new concept of active packaging; a packaging that will reduce/eliminate pathogen microbial growth, increasing shelf-life of packaged food (meat and vegetables). This will reduce food loss across the supply chain. The packaging system will be designed with agri-waste (palm empty fruit bunch), setting-up a platform for other subsequent broader uses, and will contribute to minimising waste-to-landfill problems. The approach will develop a tool to reduce problems of food poisoning, as food poisoning. Consumption of meat/vegetables/ready meals spoiled with pathogen micro-organisms is considered to be the most common source of food poisoning both in the UK and in Malaysia, reflecting a more general case both in Europe and Asia. The bioactive molecules will be produced using herbs, sourced from the UK/ or from Malaysia.This proposal focuses on the issue from both the UK and Malaysian perspective and practices within the industry that will also have wider international relevance and impact.