ATW 2026: AMFRESH Showcases Post-Harvest Innovation at OMEGA

AMFRESH welcomed representatives from across the fresh produce industry to its OMEGA Innovation Centre at Alconbury Weald as part of Agri-Tech Week 2026, for an event co-hosted with Agri-TechE.

Bringing together retail partners, academia, public sector organisations and technology specialists, the event showcased OMEGA’s capabilities as a specialist centre dedicated to advancing post-harvest science and technology.

Guests explored OMEGA’s laboratories, discovering how the Innovation team combines scientific research, emerging technologies and consumer insights to address challenges facing the fresh produce industry.

Key areas included sustainable packaging, technologies to extend freshness and shelf-life, waste reduction, and the relationship between fruit biochemistry and sensory perception. The tours also demonstrated how consumer preferences inform research to improve product quality and the overall eating experience.

The event concluded with an expert panel discussion exploring the future of fresh produce, bringing together perspectives from academia and industry.

Discussions focused on evolving consumer behaviours, increasing awareness of health and nutrition, and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, machine learning and emerging shelf-life technologies. Panellists also considered how climate variability, supply chain pressures and evolving legislation could influence future innovation, breeding and variety development.

A key takeaway was the importance of collaboration in translating scientific research into practical, commercially relevant solutions.

Attendee feedback highlighted OMEGA’s specialist facilities, AMFRESH’s continued investment in research and sustainability, and the opportunities for collaboration across the industry.

The event reinforced OMEGA’s role in connecting science, technology and consumer understanding to help shape a more sustainable, resilient and consumer-focused future for fresh produce.

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