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Food waste is a critical global problem, costing billions annually and contributing significantly to environmental damage. In the European Union alone, over 59 million tonnes of food are discarded every year – a staggering 132 kilograms per person – while millions suffer from foodborne illnesses. Addressing these challenges, three young Spanish entrepreneurs, Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez, and Luis Chimeno, have developed smart biodegradable labels that detect bacterial growth on food and signal freshness in real time. This breakthrough has earned them a place among the top 10 selected innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025.
The story behind Spain’s smart label pioneers
Their company, Oscillum, embeds intelligent biosensors into a biodegradable polymer matrix that reacts to bacterial compounds released as food spoils, triggering a visible colour change. “We place the biosensor in contact with the food, and with a simple colour change it indicates whether it is safe to eat or should be thrown away,” Granado explains.
This innovation gives consumers and retailers accurate, real-time information about food safety, unlike traditional expiry dates or time-temperature indicators that can be unreliable. By directly detecting bacterial activity, Oscillum’s labels help reduce unnecessary food waste and lower the risk of food poisoning.
The idea originated from a memorable experience in their university days at Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche. Chimeno recalls: “The idea started because Pablo had a piece of meat in the fridge that had a very strange look and smell. He decided to eat it against our advice. Nothing happened, and that’s when the spark came. We thought: how many people would have thrown this away?” This moment inspired the team to design a solution that provides clear, easy-to-understand information about the product’s freshness, helping consumers make safer decisions.
Helping customers, retailers and vulnerable communities
Oscillum’s smart labels work across a variety of foods, from fresh produce to meat and fish, and even packaged goods. The labels also indicate ripeness on fruits and vegetables, preventing premature disposal of perfectly edible products. For retailers, the technology offers a way to optimize stock management and cut losses, while consumers gain confidence in the food they buy.
Since officially launching in 2019, Oscillum has grown through partnerships, accelerator programmes, and funding from innovation centres. The company is now expanding into active packaging solutions that interact with food to extend shelf life. Early intellectual property protection has been crucial to securing their place in the competitive food-tech sector.
Their work advances several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Responsible Consumption, and Climate Action. “We understand sustainability as a balance between environmental, economic and social factors,” says Sosa Domínguez, underlining the trio’s holistic approach. Chimeno highlights the particular potential benefits for vulnerable communities, explaining that the “technology can reduce food waste and its environmental impact while also preventing food poisoning, especially in regions with limited food safety infrastructure.”
Oscillum’s smart labels offer a practical, scalable response to the global challenge of food waste and safety – offering a tool that benefits both consumers and the planet.