A unique biogel developed by scientists at Novosibirsk State Technical University (NETI) has extended the freshness of mulberries to three days instead of one. The technology of preserving useful properties and appearance will allow the berries to be transported over long distances. The work was carried out within the framework of the biomedical direction of the Priority 2030 program.
A team of scientists from NSTU-NETI conducted experiments to preserve the appearance and beneficial properties of mulberries using Fructogel, a development that was presented last year and became a real discovery: the unique composition of the gel allows you to extend the shelf life of berries and fruits. In addition, biogel can be used in various industries: medicine, crop production, industry.
NSTU-NETI continues experiments to explore the possibilities of Fructogel. Currently, scientists are testing the effect of biogel on mulberry, known for its beneficial properties: it contains vitamins, minerals, sweet proteins, polysaccharides, and a large amount of antioxidants, but there is no "safety margin" for transportation.
Biogel based on natural polymers of plant and animal origin significantly extended the "life" of the berry, which becomes unusable after a day. "Studies have shown that Fructogel allows mulberries to stay fresh for three days, during which time they can be transported over long distances for sale or processing. At the same time, Fructogel made it possible to preserve all the beneficial properties of the berry," said Ekaterina Litvinova, PhD, head of the project "New Engineering Solutions and Artificial Intelligence for the Medical Industry."
The research is conducted in cooperation with Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov.
The taste and nutritional properties of Fructogel, whose contract production was launched in St. Petersburg, are not affected - it has passed state registration as a food additive and received a declaration of compliance with the requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union, confirming its safety as a food product.
The scientists plan to test the biogel on frozen mulberry berries and on fresh stone berries, as well as seasonal berries in the Russian Federation: strawberries, raspberries, honeysuckle.