Signing with Dr Jack Watkins, the inventor and developer of the licensed product, the agreement gives ACMI the exclusive license to 'enhance, commercialize, manufacture and market the all-natural plant product' in the United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada, as well as European Union.
"This technology is an all-natural product composed of various fruits and vegetables that allows the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in those fruits and vegetables to be added to processed food products, enhancing their nutritional value to the consumer," said the ACMI in a statement this week.
According to the firm, Dr Jack Watkins' technology minimizes the degradation of the natural vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients of fruits and vegetables when being processed in a variety of food applications.
"The inclusion of this technology in processed food greatly enhances the nutritional value of those food products so they deliver the equivalent vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient value of 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables in one serving of the respective food product," said ACMI, confirming that the new technology is the primary driver for the company, looking to push growth in the functional foods segment of the food industry.
The commercialization of this new technology will serve as the platform from which ACMI will develop, concluded the firm.
The incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease continues to rise globally, especially in countries adapted to a western diet. A strong correlation between the intake of fruits and vegetables and reduced incidence of these diseases has been established.
While medical studies are still inconclusive as to the precise nature of this interaction, it appears that phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables are important in the relationship.
Scientific studies in the US and Europe are currently investigating the exact nature and type of phytonutrients important for human health. The five most common phytonutrients today are vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids, isoflavones and phytosterols.