TRANSIT — Training Network Sustainable Technologies

Results in brief

Training Network Sustainable Technologies

Sustainable food production has become a worldwide priority. High Hydrostatic Pressure, Pulsed Electric Field, Ultrasound and Non-Thermal Plasma are non-conventional technologies that offer consumer benefits like clean label food products and solutions to anti-microbial resistance. The overarching aim of the TRAining Network SustaInable Technologies (TRANSIT) was to train ten early stage researchers in the field of sustainable food production to endow them with the necessary transferable skills to contribute to technological innovation that aims to 1. responsibly produce food to feed the increasing population with high-quality and safe food; 2. optimize non-conventional food production by implementation of low-energy use technologies and/or replacement of chemical preservatives to further reduce food waste; 3. integrating consumer perception in the product development phase and addressing consumer choices in relation to processed products. TRANSIT’s consortium joined forces of 15 participating organisations from 8 European countries and offered a unique blended training program with research training, secondments, summer schools and workshops at the interfaces of microbiology, process technology, cost benefit analyses, risk assessment and consumer sciences.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Over the last few decades major efforts have been made to develop innovative food technologies that deliver safe, nutritious foods with high organoleptic qualities that meet consumer demands. Sustainable technologies such as Pulsed Electric Field, Ultrasound, Non-Thermal Plasma and High Hydrostatic Pressure offer consumer benefits like clean label food products and solutions to anti-microbial resistance. Nevertheless, their application is currently limited in the food industry. Some key technical blockers of wider application include the narrow range of product applications realized, variability in antimicrobial effects and engineering challenges related to upscaling. Additionally, consumer acceptance is currently low. TRANSIT brings together 13 participating organisations from 8 European countries to offer the necessary interdisciplinary and intersectoral training to the next generation of scientists to optimize and drive utility of these sustainable technologies in the food industry. Participants’ expertise at the interfaces of microbiology, process technology, cost benefit analyses, risk assessment and consumer sciences will provide comprehensive training to ten ESRs. Using a functional genomics approach, TRANSIT will identify the main microbial molecular targets in five model species that represent major food associated pathogens and spoilage organisms and will design effective antimicrobial impact strategies for the non-thermal technologies accordingly. In concert with renowned industrial partners, the product range for application will be extended and upscaling of the equipment will be realised. Importantly consumer acceptance studies will be used to support broader product application of the optimized technologies in the food industry. TRANSIT will nurture successful collaborative relationships between first-class universities, companies, governmental and research institutions, and contribute to the competitiveness and leadership of the food sector in Europe.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY · WageningenCoordinatorNetherlands
DIL DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FUR LEBENSMITTELTECHNIK EV · QuakenbruckGermany
ELEA VERTRIEBS- UND VERMARKTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH · QUAKENBRUCKGermany
LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR PLASMAFORSCHUNG UND TECHNOLOGIE EV · GreifswaldGermany
SENSE TEST, SOCIEDADE DE ESTUDOS DE ANALISE SENSORIAL A PRODUTOS ALIMENTARES, LDA · Vila Nova De GaiaPortugal
THE UNIVERSITY OF READING · ReadingUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITA TA MALTA · MSIDAMalta

TRANSIT · Training Network Sustainable Technologies

Results in brief

Training Network Sustainable Technologies

Project objective

Participants

Links