Investments and subsidised projects

The development program proposed by Melinda Consortium of Cooperative Farms, comprises of an investment project for the extension of the production unit in Predaia, in the Trento district. The objective is to increase the storage capacity and fruit product processing. In addition, the program includes an Industrial Research project (IR), for an energy efficiency system for the refrigeration of the apples.

The contribution for the development program amounting to a total of €/000 10.119, and will be entirely used to finance the creation of a cableway connection between the Hypogeal Cells and the Cocea plant (Mondo Melinda). The objective is to decrease CO2 emission by limiting the transport on road. In addition, the project includes the implementation of AI algorithms that will help foresee the amount of energy required by each cell, and therefore, the ideal storage temperature for the fruit.

(PSR PAT 2014-2022) The PEI (European Innovation Partnership) project “SMS Green – Circular Bioeconomy: Apple-Soil Sustainability” (abbreviated as SMS Green) aims to close the loop in the apple supply chain, including cultivation, production, and processing. By applying the principles of bioeconomy, the project introduces technological and management processes that enable the recovery and valorization of by-products and waste materials, which are utilized to produce renewable energy and high-quality soil amendments, which are then returned to the soil to restore fertility and maintain biodiversity.

The project presented by Melinda, APOT, and MPA Solutions aims to develop an enabling technology ecosystem for the territorial analysis of the orchards. By centralizing the data provided by APOT and Melinda into a single technological platform, it will be possible to comprehensively and thoroughly analyze the set of variables that contribute to the orchards’ productivity and product quality.

This will enable the identification of significant correlations between environmental, soil-climatic, qualitative, and productive variables, with the overall goal of further enhancing product quality while making it increasingly sustainable. Additionally, the project aims at the development of a model for the analysis of the carbon sequestration capacity of each orchard, so to identify the best agronomic practices that must be implemented for each one of them.

The Project is a real challenge that originates from the territory itself, pursued by Melinda and supported by Invitalia/Mimit and the Autonomous District of Trento. The project objective is to identify innovative and sustainable solutions for the implementation of new production processes and for the optimization of the resources in a circular economy perspective that can leave a widespread impact, both on a local and international basis. The products intended to be made are organic and Renetta Canada PDO apples produced by MELINDA members, which will be processed, packed, refrigerated in the project’s processing plant. Coherently, the R&D project denominated “MEBYC: Circular Apple Byproducts” will utilize as extraction base, discharged organic apples not suitable for sale, and the so-called “apple pomace” apple waste from apple processed products like juices and purées. These investments contemplate direct or indirect expenses connected with specific objectives regarding environmental improvement and increase of the sustainability of the production chain, like efficiency gains and reduction of power and water consumption, new logistic systems for the decrease of polluting and energy-consuming transportation systems.

Malnutrition is a global health problem that has widespread cardiovascular implications. This project addresses this issue, creating innovative symbiotic products (pre-and pro – biotics) from nanovesicles (NV) of non-animal origin (apples/yeasts/bacteria). The innovative aspect of this project is in the use of plant origin vesicles as a new base for probiotics, therefore promoting a harmonic existence of the intestinal bacteria favouring unique combinations of microbiota. Melinda Consortium will play a leading role in the production, processing, and supplying of the required quantity of apples for the isolation of the apple-derived nanovesicles. To respect sustainability and circular economy principles, the apples will be supplied from waste products, so to reduce environmental impact. The consortium will utilize their patented and proprietary know-how for the isolation and stabilization of the NV from various sources like, apple fruits, Lactobacillus sp. and Saccharomyces sp. culture broths. They will also provide the infrastructures and human resources for the extraction of the juice, filtration, micro-filtration, and ultra-filtration of the nanovesicles. Melinda will also play a main role in the characterization of the nanovesicles, providing know-how and technical equipment, while performing all the quantitative analysis required during the entire project.

In the Italian regions of Puglia, Emilia-Romagna, and Trentino food waste has become a challenging problem caused by the surplus of horticultural and seafood products. The aim of the project is the extraction of valuable molecules like pectin, calcium carbonate, and fruit (i.e. apples, cherries, etc.) and vegetable (i.e carrots) based vesicles, thanks to the use of advanced technologies. In particular, Melinda will take care of the production, processing, and supplying of bioactive compounds, in particular PDVs. To respect sustainability and circular economy principles, the apples will be supplied from by- products, so to reduce environmental impact. Melinda will utilize their patented and proprietary know-how for the isolation and stabilization of the PDVs from various vegetable sources and will also provide the infrastructures and human resources for the extraction of the juice, filtration, micro-filtration, and ultra-filtration. Melinda will also take care of the industrialization of the processing methods of the extraction and characterization of the PDVs.

The destination of these innovative materials will be animal and human feed.