Health & Nutrition

MICROWORLD PUERTOS identifies microorganisms capable of biodegrading micro- and nanoplastics in the waters of the Port of Tarragona and La Pineda beach, through the analysis of plastic-degrading microbial strains. These strains are identified from plastic debris found in the waters and beaches of Tarragona to ensure they are well adapted to local Mediterranean conditions. In addition, the study assesses the potential toxicity of plastics through experimental, microbiological, and bioinformatic models. Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental concerns today, as microplastic polymers are persistent, widespread, and can affect ecosystems and human health by entering [...]

Obtaining new protein sources through fermentation of agri-food by-products for the development of high value-added products. NOVAFERM studies the valorisation of by-products of plant origin, from organic farming, through solid-state fermentation. The objective is to obtain new ingredients and/or value-added products, applicable to the development of hybrid meat products. This contributes to reducing environmental impact and promoting the circular economy. With the pilot-scale development of the inclusion of mycoprotein in the different meat formations, companies could diversify their range of products, which will allow them to reach the alternative protein market that is increasingly expanding. This [...]

Program of technological and innovative entrepreneurship of proximity. Local Products Hub supports entrepreneurs through specialized training and mentoring to foster the creation and growth of companies based on innovation, technology, and new business models in the agri-food sector. The program promotes food production using local resources, linked to the values ​​of the region, and fosters new, more innovative, digital, and sustainable business models. Specifically, the program addresses the entire value chain of the agri-food sector, including agricultural production, food processing, marketing, and logistics of agri-food products in the Empordà region. The program offers 100 hours of [...]

Technological and innovative entrepreneurship program in Girona. Benestar i Salut Girona Hub supports entrepreneurs through specialised training and mentoring to promote the creation and growth of companies based on innovation, technology and new business models in the field of well-being, which includes food, health and sports. This progam promotes entrepreneurship in the wellness sector, based on innovation and technology and supports the creation of new companies and/or new products and services through levers, platforms, support and training that help to respond to challenges, needs and opportunities present in the territory. The program offers 100 hours of [...]

Technological and innovative entrepreneurship program in Lleida. EMPRÈN BIO 4.0 promotes technological and innovative entrepreneurship as a driver of new sustainable business models in Lleida. The project boosts the economic and business fabric through the bioeconomy and its value chains: agri-food, biomaterials, bioenergy, biofertilizers, biofuels, bioproducts, bioplastics and the economic and social valorisation of ecosystem services. EMPRÈN BIO 4.0 supports entrepreneurs through specialised training and mentoring to promote the creation and growth of companies based on innovation, technology and new business models in the field of bioeconomy. The objective is to promote the valorisation of renewable [...]

R&D to help the agri-food industry face the challenges of climate change and increase its competitiveness. Agrosimbiosis addresses the competitiveness gaps associated with the challenges of the climate crisis in the agri-food sector through the development and adaptation of technologies. Within the context of this project, the R&D line "Obtaining high-value bioproducts from agroindustry" develops and validates a paste made from discarded walnuts for export, incorporating a microencapsulated polyphenol extract to improve its oxidative stability and promote its commercial viability. This study arises from the collaboration between the Center for Systems Biotechnology of the Andrés Bello [...]

Revaluation of products and co-products of the territory with differentiated nutritional value. RE-VALORA TERRITORI incorporates honey with different nutritional and rheological characteristics into new food products. The project revalues ​​whey, fruit (apple and pear), legumes, honey and spirulina algae to obtain new food products. This revaluation of co-products is in line with the challenge and culture of reducing food waste. RE-VALORA TERRITORI considers circular economy as cooperation between food processors by supplying each other with ingredients and/or by-products to be revalued and, in this way, reducing the impact of the accumulation of by-products. The current situation [...]

Insecticulture and circular economy. LIVLAB-IN transforms agriculture and agroindustry through insecticulture and the principles of the circular economy. This project uses insect production as a solution for the valorisation of by-products, waste and plant residues, contributing to a more sustainable and profitable model in several links of the food chain, from the first transformation to the waste generated in food stores. Through this methodology, LIVLAB-IN proposes solutions to optimise the use of resources (breeding substrate, space, energy and water), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to take advantage of waste nutrients efficiently, helping to convert waste [...]

Km0 foods with a social perspective. CONNECTEM optimises nutritionally improved products using local ingredients in different applications such as vegetable creams, meat derivatives and dehydrated products. The project responds to the need for social inclusion of a segment of the population, promoting the development of new foods using ingredients of high nutritional value from organic and regenerative Km0 agriculture. This new range of products will be framed in the use of local plant-based raw materials with high protein content. In addition to developing new innovative food products with differentiated nutritional and sensory quality, prioritszing the sustainability [...]

Study of alternative insect protein in the development and sustainable production of new foods. PISA studies and evaluates insect-derived ingredients as an emerging source of protein, both of animal and plant-based, for the development of new hybrid meat products. The project advances the knowledge of the properties of these ingredients and their applicability in different food matrices, thus aligning with the recommendations of the FAO and the UN to explore more sustainable and efficient solutions in food production. With the growth of the global population, a higher demand for proteins is expected, especially from animal sources, [...]

Transforming agricultural by-products into sustainable protein sources. SAN-PROT valorises ​​olive oil the residue from olive oil extraction, known as sansa, as a new alternative protein source, addressing the challenges of the protein transition. In a context in which the demand for proteins will grow significantly until 2050, and with the increasing environmental pressures derived from animal production, SAN-PROT proposes a sustainable solution that reduces dependence on traditional sources such as soy and promotes more environmentally responsible production. The project takes advantage of the residue generated during the extraction of olive oil to develop new protein applications [...]

Development of new fruit-based products adapted to the export and quality requirements of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to the Halal certification, responding to the increase in demand for nutritious and healthy products with entry into new international markets such as the American or the Muslim. Halal products, consumed by the Muslim population, are not associated with any specific country, but within the European Union it is important to highlight the relevant role of France and, outside Europe, the importance of penetrating markets such as Saudi Arabia. In the food industry, technological [...]

Ecological implications of restoring sediment flows in regulated rivers. The ECOSEDRIV project understands and quantifies the interactions between suspended sediments, flow regime and biological communities in highly regulated rivers to design new reservoir management schemes to restore sediment flow towards the coast in a sustainable way. ECOSEDRIV takes the lower Ebro River as a model of highly regulated river systems with a strong sediment deficit and where large floods were suppressed, to test the hypotheses raised by the project. Deltas are among the most vulnerable coastal systems and require sediment inputs for their progradation and vertical [...]

Cervera network of excellence for the innovation of new protein sources for the generation of different foods, prioritizing sustainability processes, the impact on health and consumer demands. The OPTIPROT project addresses the transition towards a more sustainable nutrition by searching for new respectful sources of alternative protein, assessing both the environmental impact and the repercussion on human health and optimizing the technological, social, cultural and legislative challenges. For this purpose, omic technologies (transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics) are used which, within the context of food and through the use of high-performance tools, improve human nutrition and [...]

Understanding and preventing the impact of endocrine disruptors on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis in sensitive populations. The HYPIEND project, coordinated by Eurecat, investigates the effects of multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) exposure in the function and epigenetic programming of the hypothalamus-pituitary (HP) axis to delineate interventional strategies for minimizing exposure and consequences on the neuroendocrine system during the perinatal and pre-pubertal stages. To do that, a computational toxicology methodological framework will be built leveraging public data and state of the art data analysis techniques to define EDC co-exposure patterns in target population. The resulting patterns will be [...]