Tackling India’s Food Waste Crisis: The Story of Fruvetech
The Indian food industry is booming, with India ranking second next to China in food production, boasting a massive food processing industry worth around US$70 billion. However, this growth is hindered by a significant problem: post-harvest losses. These losses, particularly in the horticulture (fruit and vegetable) sector, pose a big challenge, preventing farmers from doubling their income and hindering progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Moreover, each year, a large amount of produce goes to waste, directly impacting farmers and small retailers. These losses also take a toll on the Indian economy, leading to higher fruit prices as the costs of damage are factored in, making it difficult for people to afford. To address this issue, Dr. Jagadis Gupta Kapuganti, a scientist at NIPGR, Delhi along with his team has developed a safe and sustainable system for storing fruits, vegetables, and even perishable items like mushrooms. In 2021, he founded Fruvetech, a startup aimed at revolutionizing post-harvest practices and reducing food wastage in India.
Let’s learn more about the startup and its founder through these interview excerpts:
Tell me something about yourself, your family, and your educational background?
I hail from the countryside village of Dharmavaram in Andhra Pradesh. I pursued my B.Sc from Silver Jubilee College, Kurnool, and completed my MSc in Plant Sciences at the University of Hyderabad. Later, I went to Germany in 2004 to pursue my PhD under the guidance of Prof. Werner Kaiser, a pioneer in nitrogen metabolism and nitric oxide signaling. Following that, I did postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Germany. From 2012 to 2014, I had the privilege of serving as a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Oxford. Upon returning to India, I joined as a Scientist at DBT-National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi.
What inspired you to start this startup?
India is the second producer of fruits and vegetables and has huge market potential but due to lack of sufficient infrastructure and technologies farmers and small retailers are losing lot of income. There is huge loss of fruits and vegetables. I have enormous knowledge on plant metabolic pathway, respiration and plant signaling, by combining this expertise, I wanted to utilize my knowledge to develop solution to tackle the post-harvest losses that lead to development of the technology. With the guidance and encouragement of Prof. Ramesh Sonti, I applied for the Biotechnology Ignition grant, which laid the foundation for founding Fruvetech startup.
Did your family support this business idea? Are they involved in this business?
Yes, my family wholeheartedly supported my entrepreneurial endeavors. My wife, Dr. Aprajita Kumari, serves as a co-founder of the startup. Together, we tirelessly worked to translate our innovations into products that benefit various stakeholders in the fruit and vegetable industry.
What specific problem or need does your startup address?
Post-harvest losses pose a significant challenge in India, resulting in substantial economic losses for farmers and small retailers. Our innovative technology targets the natural ripening process of fruits and vegetables, which is a primary cause of spoilage. By suppressing ethylene, regulating respiration, and enhancing fruit defense responses, we offer a novel and cost-effective solution to delay ripening and prevent post-harvest spoilage.
What is the unique solution or innovation offered by the startup?
Fruvetech has developed innovative formulations and devices to enhance the shelf-life of fruits and elicit defense responses against microbial spoilage. Our formulas are derived from organic and sustainable materials, making them the world’s first of their kind.
How do you plan to scale the operations or reach a wider audience?
Fruvetech aims to establish a large-scale sachet making facility and expand our reach through B2B trials and partnerships with fruit market hubs, FPOs, and export-import businesses.
What partnerships or collaborations have you formed to enhance the company’s impact nationally and internationally?
We are incubated at prestigious institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, and IARI-Pusa Krishi, and participate in other acceleration Programs. These partnerships connect us to national and international markets, enhancing our impact and reach.
How do you incorporate sustainability or environmentally friendly practices?
Our startup develops formulations from organic ingredients, and our sachet packaging is made from paper, minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, our devices are made from recycled plastic, aligning with sustainable development goals.
What milestones have you achieved since the inception?
Fruvetech has developed formulations for 40 types of fruits, conducted pilots with several industries, and received accolades such as the National Startup Award and UK India Achiever Honors at the UK Parliament in 2023. Furthermore, we have developed devices for large-scale fruit storage.
Did you take any incubator support?
Yes, we received assistance, guidance and complete incubation support from PUSA Krishi, IARI and BIRAC and we are immensely grateful to them for believing in our vision and providing us with the resources needed to thrive.
What are your future plans, and where do you see your startup in the next 5 years?
Our goal is to expand across India and become a leader in post-harvest technology and innovations globally. We aspire to enter hypermarkets, export-import industries, and continually improve the health of people while uplifting the livelihoods of farmers and small retailers through organic and sustainable practices.
