Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Lignin and Starch for Tinting Alternative Foods

Project description

Colouring the future of food

In the food industry, the widespread use of non-biodegradable colourants presents a significant environmental concern. These synthetic additives contribute to pollution and pose disposal challenges, raising calls for sustainable alternatives. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the LISTAF project sets out to revolutionise food colouring by developing biodegradable photonic materials. Through enzyme-aided research and bio-based surfactants, the project aims to create eco-friendly, cost-effective materials that meet consumer demands. LISTAF advances food technology and provides invaluable training in lignin chemistry and bio-photonics, shaping future research and fostering sustainability.

Objective

The LISTAF project seeks to develop biodegradable photonic materials using starch and lignin as sustainable alternatives to conventional, non-biodegradable colorants in the food industry. These materials harness photonic color, which offers greater durability compared to pigment-based colors and finds applications across industries. The project centers on three key work packages:

1. Precision production of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) through enzyme-assisted techniques, with a focus on controlling amylopectin branching and optimizing self-assembly conditions.

2. Utilization of lignosulfonates and colloidal lignin as surfactants to stabilize SNPs, exploring variables such as concentration, pH, and addition timing to control SNP size and polydispersity.

3. Development of photonic starch and coatings for food industry applications, including in vitro digestion and fermentation analyses to assess nutritional advantages.

Outstanding challenges to address include overcoming SNP aggregation, gaining control over nanoscale starch-lignin interactions, and achieving close-packed assembly of the particles. The project aims to address these challenges through enzyme-aided research and innovative bio-based surfactant systems. Ultimately, the goal is to create eco-friendly, cost-effective, and nutritionally valuable materials that align with consumer demand for high-quality food products. The successful completion of this project will provide me with valuable training in lignin chemistry and bio-photonics, while also enabling me to conduct groundbreaking research in the field of starch applications. This comprehensive experience will expand my research expertise, yield high-quality publications, and significantly enhance my prospects for securing a faculty position in the future.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

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.

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.

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 222 727,68
Address
UNIVERSITETSVAGEN 10
10691 Stockholm
Sweden

See on map

Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

No data
My booklet 0 0