Climate smart food innovation using plant and seaweed proteins from upcycled sources (ERA-Net SUSFOOD2)
Keywords: upcycled plant and seaweed proteins, plant-based food, meat alternative and cheese alternative,
sustainable protein shift, food loss and waste
PUBLISHABLE PROJECT ABSTRACT
Food choices impact human and planetary health. The negative environmental impacts of the food system, increasing food insecurity and the prevalence of unhealthy diets are driving policymakers, scientists, companies and consumers to demand sustainable solutions. Globally, livestock emits 14.5% of GHGs, causes 30% of biodiversity loss, and meat demand is projected to double by 2050. Transitioning diets to more sustainable sources of protein is crucial. Plant-based proteins are currently the fastest growing food trend but are dependent on soy. The IPSUS project will exploit opportunities for extracting upcycled plant and seaweed proteins from raw materials otherwise destined to join the ~1.6 billion tonnes of annual global food loss and waste (FLW). Six protein-rich sources (pumpkin, hazelnut, grape, potato, brewers’ spent grain, seaweeds) were selected for study across partner countries (UK, Italy, Romania, Turkey, Morocco). The quantity, quality and upcycling opportunities of FLW along these value chains will be investigated. Novel protein extraction methods will be tested to identify less energy-intensive and more affordable techniques. The related nutritional quality and safety of the plant and seaweed sources and upcycled proteins will be assessed, taking bio-accessibility and potential allergenicity into account. Initially incorporation of upcycled FLW proteins into meat alternative and dairy alternative formulations will be at lab-scale, followed by prototype development at pilot-scale by the industrial partners. Instrumental and sensory acceptability of the prototypes will be compared to existing products, additionally targeting improved nutritional (low salt, sugar, fat) and clean label (no chemical additives) offerings currently lacking in the alternative protein range. Exploration of consumer behaviours, preferences and the enabling regulatory and policy environment will reveal drivers and barriers of the sustainable upcycled plant-based protein shift.
Stage 1. Analysis of the current state of knowledge, the specific market, and the properties of wine crops on a national and European level 01/04/2022 – 30/12/2022
Activity 1.1 – Analysis of the current state of knowledge and the market in the field of biomass
In this activity, the Romanian market for biomass was analyzed, mainly studying the reuse of pomace and potato waste. Grape pomace can be used as a substrate for microbial protein production. It has multiple roles, serving as an alternative source of high-quality protein in animal feed or directly as an alternative protein source for human nutrition. Potatoes are the fourth most important crop in the world and represent an important source of biomass production.
Activity 1.2 – Analysis of the properties of wine crops on a national and European level
Within this activity, the properties of the vinicultural crops in Romania and in Europe were analyzed, from the point of view of the relief, the climate and the cultivated grape varieties. In general terms, the wine-growing region is a large habitat that presents the same characteristics in terms of ecological conditions, the assortment of varieties and the maintenance technologies applied to the vines and to obtain the wines. The European Union (EU) had 3.2 million hectares of vines in 2020, which represents about 45% of the world’s wine-growing areas.
Results
During Stage I of the IPSUS project, the current state of knowledge and the market was analysed, which provides a broad vision of the Romanian market for biomass, defining at the same time applications for the reuse of pomace and potato waste. Grape pomace can be used as a substrate for microbial protein production and serve as an alternative source of high-quality protein in animal feed or human nutrition.
Also, the study on the analysis of the properties of wine crops on a national and European level focuses on the properties of wine crops in Romania and in Europe, from the point of view of relief, climate and grape varieties grown. In general terms, the wine-growing region is a large habitat that presents the same characteristics in terms of ecological conditions, the assortment of varieties and the maintenance technologies applied to the vines and to obtain the wines.
Following the analyzes carried out in the specialized literature, it was concluded that in the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Slovenia, all vine crops are dedicated exclusively to the production of quality wines, while in Romania, the majority ( 72.1% in 2020) of vine crops are dedicated to table wine production.
Stage 2: Architecture definition, design, development and implementation of the vineyard monitoring platform– 01.01.2023 – 31.12.2023
Activity 2.1 Defining the architecture and designing the functional modules
Activity 2.2 Development and implementation of the viticulture monitoring platform
Stage 3: Testing, validation, coordination and dissemination– 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2024
Activity 3.1 Testing and validating the viticulture monitoring platform
Activity 3.2 Coordination and dissemination
Dissemination activities
Web page : http://www.beiaro.eu/ipsus/
Publication
- Somayajula, V.K.A.; Ghai, D.; Kumar, S.; Tripathi, S.L.; Verma,C.; Safirescu, C.O.; Mihaltan, T.C. Classification and Validation of Spatio-Temporal Changes in Land Use/Land Cover and Land Surface
Temperature of Multitemporal Images, Sustainability 2022, 14, 15677. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315677,Publicat 25 Noiembrie 2022 - Dhabliya, D.;Soundararajan, R.; Selvarasu, P.;Balasubramaniam, M.S.; Rajawat, A.S.; Goyal, S.B.; Raboaca, M.S.; Mihaltan, T.C.; Verma, C.; Suciu, G. Energy-Efficient Network Protocols and Resilient Data Transmission Schemes forWireless Sensor Networks—An Experimental Survey. Energies 2022, 15, 8883. https:// doi.org/10.3390/en15238883, Publicat 24 Noiembrie 2022
Conference participation
- ATOM-N Conference – 11th edition of the International Conference “Advanced Topics in Optoelectronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies”, August 25-28, 2022, Constanța, Romania. Publication: Advanced precision farming techniques employing WSN and UAV, Authors: Cristina-Mihaela Bălăceanu, Robert-Alexandru Streche, Roxana Roscăneanu, Filip-Emanuel.
- International Conference – 10th IEEE International Conference on E-Health and Bioengineering – EHB 2022 Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania, November 17-18, 2022. Publication: Diseases Detection System based on Machine Learning Algorithms and Internet of Things Technology used in Viticulture, authors: Cristina Balaceanu, Robert Streche, Roxana Roscaneanu, Filip Osiac, Oana Orza, Sabina Bosoc, George Suciu. BEIA participated in the conference where they presented the article that was based on the IPSUS project..
Events
- GoTech World 2022
BEIA participated as exhibitor in GoTech World 2022, the largest B2B conference & expo in Central and Eastern Europe on 3-4 November 2022 and had the opportunity to disseminate the IPSUS project.
Visit website here: https://www.gotech.world/
- SCEWC (Smart City Expo World Congress) 2022
Our company participates in SCEWC (Smart City Expo World Congress) 2022 on 15-17 November 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. It’s a great opportunity for BEIA to disseminate the IPSUS project with participants.
Visit website here: https://www.smartcityexpo.com/
- TAFIE 2022 & ROMAT 2022
BEIA participated in TAFIE & ROMAT 2022 fairs in Bucharest, Romania on 23-25 November 2022. It was a great opportunity to disseminate the IPSUS project.
Website
Check the official website here.
Social Media
Twitter here: https://twitter.com/IpsusProjectEU