Novel application targets and products derived from wild arctic berries

Project Information

WILDBERRY

Grant agreement ID: 739638

DOI

10.3030/739638

Project closed

EC signature date 3 March 2017

Start date 1 September 2017

End date 31 August 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 69 375,00

EU contribution

€ 69 375,00

Coordinated by

EXTRX OY
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WILDBERRY (Novel application targets and products derived from wild arctic berries)

Reporting period: 2017-09-01 to 2018-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The demand for nutraceuticals and functional foods is on the rise due to increased consumer interest in convenient, safe and healthy foods. One of the solutions to meet this demand is wild arctic berries, many of which contain significant amounts of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins act as antioxidants and are known for their beneficial effect to cardiovascular health, vision and prevention of diabetes, among other benefits.
Project objectives were to develop and improve adsorption chromatography process and intensify product development as a part of the company's R&D team. Although the process itself can be straightforward, there are still areas where novel ideas are needed to enhance the cost-efficiency of the process and economical potential of the products. Some of the objectives attained were discovering potential uses for the solid berry fraction, sugar fraction and anthocyanin extraction process optimization.

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

Key activities done through this project are:
1. Processing parameter optimization for anthocyanin extract production has been mostly completed via pilot-scale testing.
2. Several uses for solid berry fraction have been found and sample products have been made. The next step is customer acceptance testing and distributing sample products.
3. Uses for other side streams have also been invented, but concept-proofing is still under way and they soon will be translated from the pipeline to the platform.
4. The content of anthocyanin and other health-promoting compounds have been analyzed from various berry varieties and products made from them.
We plan to operate B2B with various local and international customers. Our markets are both young, active and health-conscious people and the aging population. Our future, current and previous research collaborations are Lappeenranta University of Technology, Oulu University, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Massey University.

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)

One of our main products to be is anthocyanin extract made from local berries. However, our vision is to expand our product portfolio to various other innovative natural products and functional foods by utilizing the anthocyanin extract production side streams. We have navigated our strategies across the country for extensive business support to testify innovative capacity of the organization with respect to market penetration, expansion and operation of cutting edge technology. We have developed interfaces for waste management, site specific recycling and minimizing carbon footprints with material recovery. We have had channelized factors & cofactors which could provide more funding for trial testing to escalate novel & proven technologies. Lastly, an insight was also nurtured into the supply chain and lifecycle assessment tools to stop adulteration and trace added value of side streams. We created a positive impact in terms of using sustainable technologies, hiring local talent for Sotkamo city to grow and producing healthy products to mark the beginning of a nutraceutical era. Final results and interpretations of carried out experiments are appended to this report.

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