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Fruit seeds: How new plant products are created from waste!
Kern Tec in Herzogenburg transforms fruit stones into sustainable food products. Innovative technologies use waste efficiently.
Fruit seeds: How new plant products are created from waste!
In Herzogenburg, St. Pölten district, huge white sacks full of fruit stones are piled up in a unique production facility. Michael Beitl, who founded the company Kern Tec in 2019, realized during a visit to a fruit farmer in the Wachau that large amounts of fruit stones are generated as waste every year. With a newly developed technology, Kern Tec efficiently transforms this waste into valuable products. Just five years later, the company processes around 100 tons of fruit stones every month, which come from large manufacturers of fruit juices and jams from all over Europe, such as Spain and Turkey orf.at reports.
From waste to nutritional supplements
The process begins with breaking the kernels, from which a usable nut is obtained. The outer shells are used in the cosmetics industry, while the nuts are freed from the dangerous hydrogen cyanide they contain. The nuts are then turned into a paste that is used to produce plant-based milk alternatives. These products, which are made in Germany, often require protein supplements, which are ensured through the use of fruit seeds such as plum, apricot and cherry stones. These varieties are particularly suitable because they have similar properties and can be processed using Kern Tec's special technology.
In addition to milk substitutes, the company also produces chocolate cream and oils, all based on this originally simple fruit core. According to Beitl, a small proportion of these kernels is enough to achieve the required protein content, which makes the products not only versatile but also nutrient-rich.
Kern Tec's innovative approach to waste recycling impressively shows how sustainable ideas can be implemented in the food industry and at the same time contribute to reducing food waste. The success of the “Wunderkern” products demonstrates the important role that waste can play in food production in the future, while at the same time opening up new markets.