How to turn fruit waste into valuable ingredients

An Austrian food-tech company is turning discarded stone fruit pits into valuable plant-based ingredients, helping reduce food waste, lower emissions and build a more circular food system. It is supported by the European Commission for its resilient agrifood solutions. It was identified by EIT Food as a rising “food star”. EIT Food is a EU-funded agency which aims to accelerate sustainable food innovations.

A new life for stone fruit kernels

Every year, millions of tonnes of apricot, plum, cherry and peach pits are discarded after fruit processing. While the fruit itself is used in juices, jams and preserves, the pits are typically treated as waste and sent for disposal. But hidden inside these hard shells lies an overlooked resource: nutrient-rich kernels packed with oils, proteins and functional ingredients. Recognizing this untapped potential, Austrian food-tech company Kern Tec has developed a way to transform stone fruit by-products into sustainable ingredients for the food industry, creating value from a waste stream that has long been ignored.

From a waste problem to an innovative opportunity

Every year, the fruit-processing industry generates large volumes of by-products that are often discarded despite containing valuable nutrients and functional ingredients. Stone-fruit pits from apricots, plums and cherries are one such overlooked resource. Hidden inside these hard shells are 

95% less water, 50% lower CO2 emissions

Kern Tec's environmental impact is rooted in its ability to unlock value from an existing waste stream. Life cycle assessments indicate that the company's upcycled kernel ingredients use up to 95% less water and generate approximately 50% lower CO₂ emissions than conventional nut ingredients. Because the kernels originate from existing fruit-processing by-products, no additional agricultural land is required.

For more information about rising "food stars" and new market opportunities with sustainable food innovations, you can click here.