Project description
Reducing dietary fat without compromising fat’s functional roles
A diet high in fats is unhealthy, yet fats serve important functions including helping the body absorb important vitamins. Reducing the saturated and unsaturated fats in foods is challenged by a lack of suitable replacements or processes that preserve fats’ functional properties. Oleogels are a promising alternative to pure fats, but their use is limited due to regulatory, technological and environmental barriers. The ERC-funded NewOilFactory project aims to overcome current barriers with innovative manufacturing processes to produce crystalline oleogels. These gels will be made from sustainable liquid oils without the use of hydrogenated fatty acids or expensive gelling agents in mild processing conditions.
Objective
One out of five deaths in the EU in 2017 were linked to unhealthy diets and it is estimated that 53% of the EU population is overweight or obese, creating an unsustainable burden on national sanitary systems. Overconsumption of fats, particularly saturated ones, is one of the main causes of obesity; hence promoting diets that are lower in fats is essential. One strategy could be the reformulation of fatty foods with a lower amount of both saturated and total fats. However, this is challenging as fats provide characteristic functional properties that are hard to replicate with different ingredients. The use of oleogels to replace pure fats is a valuable option to solve this difficult task. Oleogels are materials with a reduced content of saturated fatty acids, achieved via the structuring of a liquid oil with a gelator agent. They can be further processed to obtain more complex food ingredients with reduced calories and interesting organoleptic properties (oleocolloids). The application of oleogels is still limited due to several regulatory, technological and environmental limitations. Building on the knowledge gained from the ERC StG grant CryForm, NewOilFactory aims at overcoming these limitations by developing novel manufacturing processes for the production of crystalline oleogels made from sustainable liquid oils, without using hydrogenated fatty acids or expensive gelling agents, and following the mild-processing paradigm. As part of the project these processes will be tested at laboratory scale, optimized using engineering simulation tools and validated in terms of scale-up feasibility, as well as economic and environmental sustainability. In parallel, an evaluation of their market potential and a competitive analysis will be performed. A knowledge transfer strategy including patenting, licensing and the creation of a consultancy start-up for further research and co-development with industrial partners will also be established.
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
10129 Torino
Italy
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.