FODIAC aims to tackle diabetes and the associated impairment of the cognitive function among the elderly. The integrative dietary solution developed in FODIAC involves three main steps (i) the extraction and stabilization of functional ingredients (mainly polyphenols); (ii) the formulation into texture-adapted foods; and, (iii) the implementation into dietary strategies that will be tested on elderlies.
In FODIAC Universities and Research Institutions with different expertise in the mentioned technologies work together Companies through the food value chain to foster the transference of knowledge reducing the time to the market.
The first step (corresponding to WP1, WP2) involves the use of the following emerging micro/nano-biotechnologies: Ohmic heating, Colloidal Gas Aphrons, Polyelectrolyte Complexation, Vibrational spray-drying, and Electro-Hydrodynamic Atomisation. The objective is to develop the most suitable solutions to extract bioactive molecules with antidiabetic and cognitive-enhancing activity for the elderly, and improve their stability and compatibility with food matrices. In this two WPs the role of the industrial partners is to provide raw materials as source of bioactive and orientate the research considering the requirements for industrial implementation such as eco-friendly, highly efficient, cost-effective, and easy to scale up.
The second step, corresponding with WP3, involves the development of improved food formulations, with textures adapted for the consumption by the elderly, incorporating antidiabetic and cognitive cognitive-enhancing molecules as well as the assessment of their industrial technical feasibility. The main challenges to achieve in this pillar is to keep the maximum of the bioactivity and sensory properties in an industrial formulation.
Finally, the third step (WP4) aims to assess in clinical trial involving elderlies, the performance of the developed antidiabetic, cognitive-enhancing foods and diets.
Thus, FODIAC aims to go from low TRL developing new emerging technologies towards high TRL implementing effective dietary solutions.
