SUSTAINABLE REVALORIZATION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES BY-PRODUCTS WITH GREEN TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPLEMENT WITH EXTRACTED KEY BIOCOMPOUNDS NEW HORTICULTURAL-BASED PRODUCTS

Funder: AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACIÓN

Duration: from 01 September 2022 to 31 May 2026 (45 months) Current

181,500.00 EUR

Of National scope. With a Public character. It has been granted under a regime of Competitive.

The FAO of the United Nations estimates that around 1/3 of the world's food production is lost or wasted in the food chain, in where fruit and vegetables can reach up to 50%. During harvesting, handling and processing, many horticultural by-products are generated, containing a large number of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the main objective of this proposal is the sustainable revalorization of horticultural by-products, extracting nutraceutical compounds to develop new products based on fruit and vegetables enriched in phytochemicals. Such innovative strategies in the design of healthy foods will be addressed in a circular economy, including the reformulation of healthier products and processes. Knowledge will be generated to be transferred to society and industry, promoting the sustainable transformation of the sector, increasing its competitiveness, achieving the objectives of the EU Green Deal, ensuring the supply of healthy, sustainable, and safe food. This main objective is intended to be achieved with the following specifics: i) biosynthesis stimulation of phytochemicals in by-products through postharvest abiotic stresses; ii) phytochemicals extraction with optimized 'Green Technologies'; iii) supplementation of fruit and vegetable-based products with encapsulated extracted biocompounds; iv) dissemination of results, protection of innovation and technology transfer. Our key phytochemicals and by-products are: isothiocyanates, mainly sulforaphane, and glucos

Call: Convocatoria de tramitación anticipada para el año 2021 del procedimiento de concesión de ayudas a «Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento», en el marco del Programa Estatal para Impulsar la Investigación Científico-Técnica y su Transferencia, del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023. (AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACIÓN)