Raquel Ortiz

Mexican bioengineer developing edible packaging to combat plastic pollution

Raquel Ortiz (b.1990) is a Mexican bioengineer and founder of EdiblePack Innovations, a company producing 100% biodegradable food packaging from agricultural byproducts. Her breakthrough came in 2018 with the invention of AgroWrap - edible films made from corn husks and chia seeds that keep produce fresh 3x longer than plastic. This innovation has diverted over 500 tons of plastic waste since 2020, adopted by major retailers like Walmart Mexico.

Ortiz's Food Future Lab research institute has developed 12 patent-pending biodegradable materials including mushroom-based coffee pods and avocado peel containers. Her 2021 collaboration with UN Environment Programme led to the ZeroPlastic Harvest initiative, training 500+ small farmers in sustainable packaging production. Recognized as 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Energy, her work combines agricultural innovation with environmental sustainability. The World Health Organization cited her materials as a top solution for post-harvest food loss reduction in developing countries.