VIDECA is developing two projects within the framework of the PERTE Agroalimentario call.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism published the final resolution of the PERTE Agroalimentario call, which has granted aid to 13 projects funded through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, with the aim of boosting the agri-food industry. VIDECA has been one of the beneficiary companies thanks to the FOODECO flagship project— a success that reinforces its commitment to R&D in bringing high-quality and food-safe products to the market for customer satisfaction.

The flagship project PAG-010000-2023-18 “FOODECO: Strategic Alliance of the Agri-Food Sector for the Comprehensive Renewal of its Value Chains through Ecological and Digital Transformation with Innovative Solutions” involves 34 companies that are developing 33 projects with a total budget of 26 million euros, 40% of which—12 million euros—comes from public funding.

Within the FOODECO framework, VIDECA participates in and leads two main collaborative projects: PAG-020100-2023-134 “VIDECASOST” and PAG-020100-2023-256 “ECOSYRUP01.” The objective of “VIDECASOST” is to optimize VIDECA’s production system through the acquisition of new equipment. This investment includes a complete peach peeling line covering the peeling, cutting, and pitting phases, allowing the company to reduce energy consumption, make production processes more sustainable and efficient, and increase production capacity with more powerful and optimized machinery. Additionally, the electrical installation will need to be upgraded to support the new equipment.

On the other hand, the “ECOSYRUP01” project aims to develop a functional syrup using sugars extracted from by-products of mandarin peel generated during the fruit’s processing. These sugars will contain antioxidant components such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamin C, which will enhance the nutritional and sensory quality of canned products while eliminating acidifying and antioxidant additives.

The ECOSYRUP01 project is being carried out in collaboration with the National Technological Center for Canning and Food (CTNC), which is employing environmentally friendly techniques to develop a process for valorizing mandarin peel to obtain a new value-added ingredient. Specifically, the work is focused on manufacturing canned peaches, pears, and segments, reducing the need for additives, obtaining more natural canned products, and reusing the waste currently generated by the company.

The FOODECO R&D flagship project is funded under the Grant Program for Actions to Strengthen the Industrial Sector of the Agri-Food Industry, as part of the 2023 call of the Strategic Project for Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience (PERTE Agroalimentario) of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.