Breakthrough Energy and Gates-linked investors backed Apeel Sciences, a Santa Barbara-based company that developed an invisible, tasteless, edible coating derived from plant skins and seeds that dramatically slows the ripening and dehydration of fresh fruits and vegetables. Apeel-treated avocados, citrus, and other produce stay fresh two to three times longer without refrigeration — addressing one of the largest drivers of food waste. Roughly one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted, and extending shelf life in warm climates where refrigeration is scarce has enormous implications for both food security and greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organic waste.