EU-19019 - FOX Food in a bOX (BO-64-101-002, BO-46-001-010)

FOX focusses on four Food Circles, of which one is located in the Netherlands. This food circle addresses upcycling of plant-based food side streams of different quality and composition. At the moment of production, these side streams are food grade, however, due to handling, storage and growth of micro-organisms, they can quickly turn into non-food grade streams. Through (mild) processing the degradation to non-food grade status should be prevented. In this food circle the focus is on side streams from vegetable crops like carrot, beetroot, chard, cabbage, tomato, cucumber. Upcycling of these side streams into high quality food products and ingredients will improve the sustainability of the entire fruit and vegetable chain.

Mild processing methods (like high pressure, pulsed electric field, supercritical CO2, mild heating technologies) will be used for preservation and extraction. The technological innovation will be aimed at the modular integration of the specific processing steps for different materials.

Research activities will focus on specific challenges related to side streams/by-products: production driven supply (often with fluctuations in volumes, demanding for stabilisation treatment), higher variability in the side streams characteristics than in homogeneous inputs to large-scale processes, relatively high microbial loads (in particular mould and yeasts in acidic and pH neutral products).

This ‘field lab’ for vegetable side streams will be evaluated at the location of Food Tech Brainport and VanRijsingenGreen and especially for product quality at the location of ‘De Verspillingsfabriek’ (Hutten Catering, company focusing on food waste, Veghel, The Netherlands). Through a ‘living lab’ - a special shelf in a supermarket (part of the initiative ‘Verspilling is verrukkelijk’ Wageningen, The Netherlands) - consumer engagement and opinion will be evaluated.

In addition to the activities in the Dutch Food Circle, WFBR will be active in activities related to sustainability, regional demonstration, involvement & exploitation and dissemination and communication. Moreover, WFBR will be heading the Scientific Coordination Team.