What Akorn Technology does

Akorn Technology is a Berkeley, California-based AgriTech startup founded in 2019 that develops 100% natural edible coatings to extend the shelf life of fresh produce and reduce post-harvest losses. The company's core technology is a patent-pending multifunctional coating platform built on a hybrid plant protein/lipid film architecture, combining three active ingredients — vegetable protein, natural wax, and vegetable oil — derived from upcycled byproducts of non-GMO corn, rice, and sunflowers. The portfolio spans crop-specific formulations under the Akorn Natural™ brand (apple, avocado, citrus, mango, pear, pineapple, stone fruit), the SnapFresh™ sub-brand for cucumbers and bell peppers positioned as a plastic-wrap replacement, and Akorn Natural Brilliance™ for shine-and-freshness on apples and citrus. In March 2026, the company launched Akorn Natural Guard™, expanding into a broader all-natural post-harvest solutions platform for high-value produce.

Akorn sells directly to fresh-produce growers, packers, and exporters through an enterprise field-sales motion, with regional technical/commercial representatives embedded in Brazil, Peru, and Europe, and a planned UAE research and production hub following the January 2026 UAE FoodTech Challenge win. Revenue mechanics are quote-based, one-time product sales of the coating formulations rather than licensing or recurring SaaS, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Customers include Latin American mango exporters (Peru, Brazil), Ecuadorian pineapple growers, and Moroccan citrus packers; notable research and validation partners include Embrapa (Brazil), UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Colorado State University, the Technical University of Crete, and Clemson University. The company is venture-backed by UM6P Ventures (Morocco), Future Food Fund (Oisix ra daichi, Japan), and has received a $1M NSF SBIR Phase II grant plus a share of the $2M UAE FoodTech Challenge prize.

Name

Akorn Technology

Legal name

Akorn Technology

Website

https://akorn.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Akorn Technology develops 100% natural edible coatings for fresh produce, using upcycled corn byproducts and a three-ingredient plant protein/wax/oil platform to double or triple shelf life for growers, packers, and exporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Coatings

NAICS

Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033)

akta.pro primary industry

Water-Soluble & Edible Packaging (PVOH-based, Edible Films) (IMALAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh Produce Packaging (IMALAHAE), Packaging & Can Coatings (IMAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Edible food coatings
• Post-harvest preservation
• Fresh produce coatings
• Shelf life extension
• Agricultural biotechnology

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Edible Coating Product Sales: Revenue from selling proprietary natural edible coatings to fresh produce growers, packers, and exporters. Coatings extend shelf life and reduce food waste across supply chains.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Akorn Technology manufactures and sells 100% natural edible coatings for fresh fruits and vegetables, made from upcycled non-GMO corn by-products, plant-based wax, and vegetable oil. The coatings are a plug-and-play solution applied at packing facilities with no new equipment required, designed to double or triple shelf life, reduce retail shrink by 20-30%, and cut producer transport losses by 50% or more. The company sells crop-specific formulations (apple, avocado, citrus, mango, pear, pineapple, stone fruit, cucumber) directly to commercial growers, packers, and exporters worldwide.

Product overview

Akorn Technology offers a platform of 100% natural edible coatings for fresh produce under the Akorn Natural™ brand. The core technology consists of multifunctional coatings containing three active ingredients (vegetable protein, natural wax, and vegetable oil) that work together to slow ripening, reduce moisture loss, and inhibit microbial growth. The product portfolio includes specialized formulations for specific produce types: Akorn Natural™ coatings for Apple, Avocado, Citrus, Mango, Pear, Pineapple, Stone Fruit, and SnapFresh for Cucumbers, plus the enhanced Akorn Natural Brilliance™ variant for Apples & Citrus. The company has expanded with Akorn Natural Guard™ as a post-harvest solutions platform and Akorn Natural Advantage for plastic-free cucumber and pepper packaging. All formulations are plant-based, using upcycled byproducts of non-GMO corn, rice, and sunflowers, and are described as plug-and-play solutions that integrate into existing packing operations without requiring new equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Akorn Natural™: 100% natural edible coatings for fresh produce including apple, avocado, citrus, mango, pear, pineapple, and stone fruit.
• Akorn Natural SnapFresh™
• Akorn Natural Brilliance™
• Akorn Natural Guard™
• Akorn Natural Advantage

Products and services

• Akorn Natural for Apple 100% natural edible coating specifically formulated for apples that extends shelf life, maintains firmness and color, and inhibits bacterial and fungal growth while preserving flavor and nutritional value.
• Akorn Natural for Avocado 100% natural edible coating for avocados that slows ripening, reduces moisture loss, and extends shelf life while maintaining superior flavor and texture.
• Akorn Natural for Citrus 100% natural edible coating for citrus fruits that controls rot and mold, reducing the need for chemical fungicides while extending shelf life.
• Akorn Natural for Mango 100% natural edible coating for mangoes that can double or triple shelf life during extended ocean transport, validated by Embrapa for Brazilian mango varieties.
• Akorn Natural for Pear 100% natural edible coating for pears that extends shelf life, taste, and appearance, maintaining the yellow-green color consumers expect.
• Akorn Natural for Pineapple 100% natural edible coating for pineapples that reduces post-harvest loss and extends freshness during transport from growing regions like Ecuador.
• Akorn Natural for Stone Fruit 100% natural edible coating for stone fruits that prevents 'woolliness' and maintains juicy, flavorful produce.
• Akorn Natural SnapFresh for Cucumbers Edible coating for English cucumbers that forms a natural invisible barrier, eliminating the need for single-use plastic wraps while maintaining freshness and quality.
• Akorn Natural Brilliance for Apples and Citrus Enhanced formulation coating for apples and citrus that provides superior shine and visual appeal while extending shelf life and maintaining product quality.
• Akorn Natural Advantage (for English Cucumbers and Bell Peppers) Edible coating formulation for English cucumbers and bell peppers that forms a natural invisible barrier, eliminating the need for single-use plastic wraps while maintaining product freshness and quality.
• Akorn Natural Guard All-natural post-harvest solutions platform designed specifically for high-value produce, representing the company's expansion into the natural post-harvest treatment market segment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extends shelf life of fruits and vegetables by 2-3x
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• UAE FoodTech Challenge (Tamkeen, ne'ma, Silal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWon $2 million prize package and access to UAE innovation ecosystem including research facilities, pilot opportunities, and market access to scale edible fresh produce coating technology globally. Plans to establish research and production hub in UAE.
• Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to validate Akorn coating solution for mango varieties grown in San Francisco Valley of Brazil. Focus on exporters seeking 100% natural coatings without requiring new equipment.
• Colorado State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on studies with Technical University of Crete demonstrating that Akorn coating not only extends shelf life but delivers fresh from the orchard flavor.
• University of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and Extension Center partnership for agricultural research and field trials.
• Clemson UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with support from Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research to develop natural plant-based alternative to plastic wrap for cucumbers.
• International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured at IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show Tech Accelerator Pavilion; selected for Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator program led by IFPA and Foundation for Fresh Produce.
• Forward FoodingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in FoodTech 500 alongside most promising AgriFoodTech entrepreneurs; recognized for hard work and dedication in creating brighter future of food.
• SilalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAE-based organization supporting food security initiatives; part of UAE FoodTech Challenge ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Apeel Sciences: Apeel is the most direct competitor: it develops plant-derived edible coatings that extend the shelf life of fresh produce (avocados, citrus, apples, mangoes) and sells to growers, packers, and retailers globally. Like Akorn, it targets the same shelf-life-extension and food-waste pain points, but with substantially more capital, broader retail penetration, and a more established brand.
• Hazel Technologies: Hazel Technologies provides 1-MCP-based post-harvest treatments and sachets that extend produce shelf life for growers, packers, and retailers. It directly competes for the same shelf-life-extension budget as Akorn's coatings, addressing the same customer base (fresh produce packers and exporters) with a complementary rather than identical technology platform.
• AgriCoat NatureSeal: AgriCoat NatureSeal manufactures edible coatings for fresh-cut and whole fruits and vegetables, including Natureseal-based product lines used by packers and processors. It is a direct, established commercial peer to Akorn in the edible-coatings-for-fresh-produce category, though more focused on fresh-cut produce than long-haul shipping.

Emerging players

• Sufresca: Sufresca is an Israeli startup developing edible coatings for fresh produce shelf-life extension. It overlaps directly with Akorn's core technology proposition and serves similar export-oriented growers, though it is at an earlier commercial stage and concentrates on fewer crop types.
• Bio-Fed (a member of the ALPLA Group): Bio-Fed develops bio-based and compostable polymer compounds for packaging and coating applications, including biodegradable film solutions. It is an emerging peer in the broader sustainable-coatings-for-fresh-produce space, with technical adjacency to Akorn's edible-film approach though oriented toward packaging rather than post-harvest treatment.

Broad incumbents

• FMC Corporation: FMC is a large global agrochemical company with a portfolio of post-harvest fungicides, coatings, and crop-protection products sold to fresh produce packers. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same post-harvest-loss wallet, though its formulations are chemical-based rather than plant-based like Akorn's.
• UPL Limited: UPL is a major global agrochemical incumbent with a broad post-harvest and crop-protection portfolio, including waxes and coatings for fresh produce. It competes indirectly with Akorn by offering conventional chemical solutions for the same produce-preservation use cases.
• Syngenta Group: Syngenta is a global agriscience incumbent with extensive crop-protection and seed treatment offerings, including post-harvest products. As a broad incumbent, it serves the same grower and packer customer base that Akorn targets, primarily via conventional chemical fungicides rather than natural coatings.
• Decco Worldwide (UPL Post-Harvest): Decco is a global leader in post-harvest solutions for fresh produce, offering waxes, coatings, fungicides, and sanitizers for packhouses and exporters. It is the most direct broad incumbent competitor to Akorn in the fresh-produce coatings category, with established global distribution but a chemical-based product portfolio.
• BASF Agricultural Solutions: BASF is one of the largest global chemical and agricultural input producers with crop-protection and post-harvest solutions reaching fresh-produce packers worldwide. It is a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with Akorn's addressable market, though it does not focus on natural edible coatings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AkornTechnology
• Facebookfacebook.com/akorn.tech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akorn-technology

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Akorn Technology