Project description
The making of plant-based cheeses for a greener, healthier future
As the demand for protein surges, concerns over the sustainability of animal-derived sources intensify. The EU faces a pressing need for high-quality plant protein alternatives to alleviate environmental strain. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the FerOtChee focuses on oat protein with the aim of revolutionising cheese production, while addressing nutritional and functional challenges. Specifically, this multidisciplinary endeavour will blend oat protein with pea protein, using enzymatic modification, and harnessing microbial fermentation. As such, FerOtChee tackles nutritional and functional challenges head-on. The project promises high-quality, plant-based Mozzarella-style cheese. Through meticulous assessment and upscale plans, FerOtChee sets the stage for a greener, healthier future.
Objective
The production of high-quality plant protein as sustainable alternative for animal proteins is an immediate requirement for the EU population. FerOtChee is a multidisciplinary project that focuses on the development of fermented plant-based Mozzarella-style cheese using oat protein. The challenges associated with the nutritional and technofunctional properties of oat protein will be addressed using innovative solutions: a) Blending: Oat protein will be partially replaced with pea protein as a complementary source. This approach has a potential to create protein hybrids with a balanced amino acid profile; b) Chemical modification: Enzymatic hydrolysis may improve the technofunctional properties of oat protein. It can also lead to the generation of lower molecular weight peptides with health-promoting effects; and c) Microbial fermentation: This will be the main strategy employed in FerOtChee to enhance the nutritional quality of oat protein. During submerged fermentation, microbial strains will be cultivated individually or in a co-cultivation setup using an oat-enriched protein substrate. Microbial enzymes e.g. proteolytic, cell-wall degrading, and antinutritional factor (ANF)-degrading enzymes generated during fermentation will target issues like poor digestibility, low recovery, and high ANF content in oat protein. The oat cheese will undergo assessment for technofunctional properties, in vitro digestibility, biological activities and the level ANF. The optimised process, which results in the production of high-quality fermented cheese at the lab scale will be transferred to a food-grade pilot plant.
The majority of this project will be carried out at UCD (main host). The Fellow will also engage in two secondments: 1) Scientific secondment at INRAe-Rennes for study of in vitro digestibility using INFOGEST; and 2) Industry placement at Tirln to upscale the process. The Fellow will also undergo a training plan that encompasses scientific and transferrable skills.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology bioprocessing technologies fermentation
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
- Limerick
Ireland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.