Net-based tool will help food producers make healthier and safer food
Imagine if we wasted less food, got more foods without allergens and could spend less energy on food production?
New food technologies can make this possible if manufacturers know which technologies are appropriate for their business. Today, there is no central place to gather knowledge about which technologies are suitable for different raw materials, products or processes. Now scientists are starting to develop an online tool that will make it easy to choose the right technology.
The new technologies include high pressure technology that keeps nutrients and increases shelf-life, plasma-activated rinse water that fight harmful bacteria, and microwave technology that consumes little energy by bringing heat directly into the food. Also, the technologies pulsed electric fields, ultraviolet light and ultrasound are included.
Nofima is leading the four-year project “iNOBox”, funded by the Research Council of Norway. Together with a number of partners, researchers will close existing knowledge gaps, and develop the online tool in collaboration with food producers. The site will be available for anyone interested in interdisciplinary knowledge about new food technologies.
The project will also provide training opportunities for young scientists through two PhD and two Postdoc positions.
Project partners:
Advanced Microwave Technologies Ltd (AMT), BAMA Gruppen AS, Den Stolte Hane AS, Elea GmbH, Findus Norge AS, Fjordland AS, Fjordkjøkken AS, Hiperbaric SA, HOFF SA, Matbørsen AS, UV Technology Limited, Veterinærinstituttet, Østfoldforskning, University of Zaragoza, University of Liverpool, Campden BRI (Chipping Campden) Limited, TNO, Nofima.
Front picture: project manager Estefanía Noriega Fernández from Nofima