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

IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES TO IMPROVE NUTRITION

Project description

The impact of foods made from alternative proteins on nutrition

Novel protein foods (NPFs) derived from unconventional sources offer an alternative to animal protein. However, their impact on humans, nature and the economy has not yet been fully assessed. The EU-funded PROTEIN4IMPACT project will evaluate the nutritional, health, safety and quality aspects of NPFs from unconventional sources while also considering their environmental and socio-economic impacts. It will focus on agri-food and fisheries by-products, as well as natural protein producers like fungi, bacteria, insects and micro- and macroalgae, upcycling secondary by-products for materials or energy generation. Feasibility studies will simulate industrial-scale production using various analytical tools, including life cycle assessments and AI-driven monitoring.

Objective

PROTEIN4IMPACT aims at evaluating the nutritional, health, safety and quality aspects together with the environmental and socio-economic impacts of protein novel foods (NFs) obtained from unconventional sources. In order to close the project loop by maximizing the positive impact on the transition towards healthier, protein NFs, the overall approach to alternative protein production in PROTEIN4IMPACT is based on utilization of selected agri-food and fisheries & acquaculture by-products as primary feedstock as well as on the utilization of natural protein producers, i.e. fungi, bacteria, insects micro- and macroalgae. The secondary by-products formed along the value chain will be up-cycled for their use in the food production cycle or for the production of process energy.
The obtained proteins will undergo modification and functionalization followed by a sensory evaluation and testing in food human trials and in aquaculture as feed ingredients. The project will also test the feasibility of producing NF products by simulating realistic industrial scale, using different methods and tools such as LCA, LCC, RA, and TEA as well as Digital Twins and real time AI-driven monitoring and DSS tools. The optimization of parameters affecting the protein NF production will be evaluated at the end to increase protein content and the impact assessment evaluated on each single stage (extraction, characterization, modification/functionalization of protein rich fraction, production of NFs) and on the integrated processes. PROTEIN4IMPACT NF acceptance and social relevance –also through sensory evaluation actions- will be assessed in four markets (Europe, USA, Africa and Asia) to benchmark the European scenario with the rest of the world. Only by using an integrated approach like the one proposed in PROTEIN4IMPACT will it be possible to evaluate the correct feasibility in the use of alternative proteins in the food sector with a realistic sustainable approach.

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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.

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-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

CENTRALESUPELEC
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.

€ 487 480,00
Address
PLATEAU DE MOULON 3 RUE JOLIOT CURIE
91192 GIF SUR YVETTE
France

See on map

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.

€ 487 480,00

Participants (17)

My booklet 0 0