Objectives
21.10.2013The LIFE+ Project “Zero Residues” aims to improve the sustainability and the quality of the production of stone fruit to create a more competitive and healthy sector.
For this reason, the project contains the following objectives:
- Develop the ZR methodology for the production of stone fruit, including logistical and technological adaptations that are required in the cultivation, processing, and fruit preservation during the post-harvest and the promotion of fruit in the market;
- Reduce environmental problems generated during the production process of the crop (e.g. drastically reduce pesticide dose, avoid degradation, prevent water contamination)
- Improve the adaptation of the processing and the post-harvest conservation, and increasing awareness and promotion of Stone fruit in the market (e.g. increase the shelf life of the fruit during post-harvest through the use of innovative micro-perforated packaging and the use of atmospheric controls)
- Reduce the remainigs of fruit, generated by quality imperfections, by using new techniques (e.g. washing techniques and implementing processing of the pulp, using the high-pressure processing - Pascalisation. Thus, treated fruit becomes an interesting product for baby food factories and may lead to new sales channels.
The project will undergo a zero-residues certification process to ensure efficient and consistent production methods and will develop a certificate, which can only be obtained if production meets the requirements of ZR.