Identification & Background 

Project name: RevestCAST – Optimization of the industrial processes of application of edible coatings for post-harvest conservation of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.)

Project code: 49276 – RevestCAST

Main objective: To develop an edible coating based on chitosan, which delays the weight loss of nuts and reduces the proliferation of microbial load during storage, without compromising the quality characteristics of this fruit.

Region of intervention: North

Beneficiary entity(s):
 SORTEGEL – Produtos Congelados S.A. (project leader)
 MORE – Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação – Associação
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

Approval date: 02-12-2020
Start date: 31-01-2021
Completion date: 30-06-2023

Total eligible investment: €723,096.87
Financial support from the European Union: 483.268,51 €

  • Develop an edible coating based on chitosan;
  • Optimize application conditions on an industrial scale;
  • Reduce by 60% the water losses in stored nuts;
  • Reduce the number of rotten nuts by microbial growth during storage.
  • A1 – Definition of formulations for coatings and adaptation of the processing line industry
  • A2 – Optimization of the coating application methodology at industrial level
  • A3 – Studies of the influence of coatings on chestnut characteristics during storage
  • A4 – Project dissemination and communication

MORE CoLAB leads Activity 1, responsible for the definition of formulations for chestnut coatings and adaptation of the industrial processing line, participating in the tasks of optimization of methodology and application conditions of coatings at an industrial level (Activity 2) and evaluation of the influence of coatings on storage (Activity 3).

  • Develop an innovative solution that efficiently ensures the reduction of weight loss and microbial proliferation in nuts during storage;
  • Develop a simple application methodology, easy to perform, with low costs and adapted to the industrial environment, for later it can be used by different industries processing nuts.