Multi-Actor Research and Innovation Approaches for Functional Food

Project Information

RIA4FOOD

Grant agreement ID: 101131479

DOI

10.3030/101131479

EC signature date 20 September 2023

Start date 1 November 2023

End date 31 October 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 600 800,00

Coordinated by

REZOS BRANDS ANONYMI EMPORIKI ETERIA IDON DIATROFIS
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RIA4FOOD (Multi-Actor Research and Innovation Approaches for Functional Food)

Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2025-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The RIA4FOOD project aims to meet growing global demand for nutritious, sustainable food by developing sea buckthorn (SB)-based functional foods with proven health benefits. It combines advanced profiling of SB varieties with optimized processing techniques, like osmotic dehydration, to produce long-lasting, health-promoting products. Utilizing human-relevant in vitro dietary and disease models and a complete metabolomic, epiproteomic and proteomic analysis, the project will assess the physiological pathways affected from sea buckthorn consumption. These profiles will be then put under rigorous machine learning analysis, to produce algorithms that will calculate the correct amount of bioactive ingredients needed to confer the desired health benefits and will thus facilitate the design of new functional products, aligning with the EU’s Horizon Europe goals for food security and public health through innovative, health-focused foods.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Up to October 2025, 10 secondments facilitated knowledge transfer and skills development among researchers. Significant progress was made across various WPs:

WP1 successfully delivered the production and in-depth biochemical characterization of sea buckthorn (SB) extracts from three varieties (Rori, Habego, Clara). Both polar and non-polar extracts were produced from fruits and leaves, yielding 18 fully characterized extracts for structural elucidation and a total of 90 extracts for metabolic profiling. Advanced high-resolution ^1H and ^13C NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D experiments) enabled qualitative analysis at atomic level, supported by the LOGS-SDMS spectral database. The analysis identified key bioactive constituents, including flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin and their glycosides), phenolic acids, sugars, tannins and amino acids in polar extracts, and lipid-rich fractions containing SFAs, UFAs, DAGs, TAGs and carotenoids in non-polar extracts.

Under WP2, extensive extraction and characterization of SB fractions were performed, quantifying phenolic, flavonoid, and other bioactives and assessing antioxidant capacity. Anti-cancer activity was confirmed across multiple cell lines, showing apoptosis induction and cytotoxicity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Anti-inflammatory effects were demonstrated via cytokine modulation in LPS-induced macrophages. Simulated digestion models provided insights into bioactive stability and gut microbiota interactions, while omics analyses identified molecular signatures linked to SB’s bioactivity.

WP3 produced human relevant evidence on sea buckthorn bioactives compounds from dietary intake analysis, in vitro bioaccessibility testing and multi-omics approach. The cross-country intake analysis quantified flavonols, carotenoids and fatty acids derived from distinct SB food matrices and associated intake values with similar metabolic, inflammatory and mucocutaneous effects reported in humans studies. Epidemiological data collection and literature review were initiated, supported by a dedicated SB bioactive database. Moreover, Standardized INFOGEST digestion combined with HPLC–DAD–ESI⁺ analysis provided quantitative phenolic bioaccessibility data for fresh Habego berries. Metabolomic, nuclear proteomic and epiproteomic analyses revealed distinct, extract-dependent molecular and nuclear response profiles.


WP5 established a shared basis for comparable assessment. An LCA questionnaire clarified partner familiarity and practical needs. An internal workshop aligned Goal & Scope, data requirements for LCI, LCIA coverage and interpretation, followed by a two-part exercise that captured process overviews and reflections on modelling choices. The first Goal & Scope draft and LCI instructions with Excel templates were designed and distributed. These outputs initiated structured data collection across partners and enable consistent, ISO-conformant inventories to be compiled, providing the evidence base for contribution analysis and comparisons in subsequent tasks.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

(WP1):
Polar and non-polar extracts from three SB varieties (Rori, Habego, Clara) were successfully produced and characterized via 1D/2D ^1H/^13C NMR, revealing flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, lipids, and carotenoids with potential antioxidant and nutritional properties. A spectral database (LOGS-SDMS) enabled comprehensive structural mapping. Results provide the biochemical foundation for the development for functional food products.

(WP2):
Results confirm SB’s potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities, with omics analyses revealing key metabolic and proteomic pathways underpinning these effects. The findings support SB’s potential as a functional food ingredient with preventive health benefits. To enable further uptake, clinical validation, regulatory guidance, standardization frameworks, and industry partnerships are essential, alongside optimization of processing technologies, market access strategies, and IPR support to facilitate commercialization and internationalization.


(WP3):
Cross-country intake assessment quantified SB bioactives from juices, oils, purees, powders, and extracts, linking consumption to metabolic, inflammatory, and mucocutaneous outcomes. In vitro digestion of Habego berries quantified phenolic bioaccessibility (oral/gastric ~45–53%, intestinal ~15%). Multi-omics analyses revealed extract-specific metabolic and nuclear proteome profiles, including histone modifications.


(WP5):
A shared methodology, Goal & Scope and operational LCI templates are now in place. As datasets are populated, contribution analyses will identify hotspots, guide mitigation and support comparisons with suitable alternatives, linking environmental indicators with nutritional/health outcomes to inform balanced decisions. Key needs to ensure further uptake and success are timely completion of partner LCI templates, consolidation of primary data, systematic QA and consistency checks, and alignment with relevant standards and reporting requirements. Where useful, targeted partner engagement will translate findings into actionable improvement options. The next steps would be to complete data acquisition, perform LCIA interpretation, and integrate results into sustainability recommendations for cultivation and functional food production, supporting regulatory and market uptake.

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