Make haste, use waste

New Zealand researchers are working to create silk purses from sows’ ears - literally. Well, almost.

The Bio-Resource Processing Alliance (BPA) is granting funds of up to NZ$2.5 million per year over five years to help NZ biological-based manufacturing businesses gain maximum value from waste and by-products while reducing the environmental impact of primary production and manufacturing.

“The challenge of how to capture more value from waste in our primary industries is huge. For example, nearly half of New Zealand kiwifruit are not of sufficient quality for direct export, 20% of harvested trees in New Zealand are left on the ground and a significant amount of material from mussel harvesting is by-catch that gets thrown away,” said Trevor Stuthridge, BPA general manager.

“The BPA was established to help turn these types of wastes into products with export potential. Four research partners - AgResearch, Callaghan Innovation, Plant & Food Research and Scion - are working with eligible organisations to apply new technologies and product opportunities to waste streams from New Zealand’s forestry, marine, agricultural, horticultural, animal and microbiological industries.”

The first BPA-funded project is being carried out at Waikato Innovation Park. Avocado Oil New Zealand is working to scale up commercial production of pure avocado powder - a project that started on a small scale in 2013.

Waikato Innovation Park is home to New Zealand’s first and only independent product development spray dryer.

The pulp from blemished and other non-saleable avocados is dried into a high-value powder in the Innovation Park’s spray dryer for use in cosmetic, nutraceutical and food products. Last year, the company launched a world-first 100% pure commercial avocado powder product, Avopure, which is selling successfully in the USA, Japan, China and Australia.

“It is the first premium avocado powder available that contains no added fillers or carriers and contains higher levels of potassium, fibre and energy,” said Brian Richardson, Avocado Oil New Zealand’s executive director.

With support from BPA, the Innovation Park’s FoodWaikato division is further improving the drying process with the aim of boosting commercial opportunities. The BPA has allocated NZ$15,000 to research by Massey University scientists and NZ$13,000 towards modifications to the FoodWaikato spray dryer.

“Avocado pulp is extremely fibrous, so the BPA is working with us to find ways to break down the fibre and also decrease the thickness of the raw product. Because the product is so thick, this reduces how quickly we can process it through the drier. The aim is to increase throughput while maintaining the natural green colour of the raw fruit, and the preserving quality,” said New Zealand Food Innovation Network business development manager Shane Kells.

Once the process has been refined, FoodWaikato will be able to help other companies duplicate the process with other waste foods.

“As far as we are aware, worldwide no one has come up with a commercially viable solution to drying pure fruit or vegetable powders through a spray dryer at a fast enough rate that can satisfy projected market demand. If we can crack this challenge, we can help New Zealand growers capture enormous export value from their waste streams,” Kells said.

FoodWaikato is trying to spread the word to food innovators in New Zealand and Australasia that it is here to help.

“The Waikato Innovation Park’s wider purpose is all about creating economic value for our region and the country by supporting companies to develop new products and new markets,” Kells said.

“FoodWaikato’s purpose is to contribute to the park’s wider aim by supporting food innovators. Avocado Oil New Zealand’s story is just one example of how we’re making that happen.”

The NZ Ministry of Business says the BPA will add NZ$100 million of additional value to the NZ economy by 2020 by applying its outcomes to secondary streams from the country’s forestry, marine, agricultural, horticultural, animal and microbiological industries