Description du projet
Un substitut naturel aux sulfites donnera une longueur d’avance aux vins européens
Un bon verre de vin peut provoquer des réactions allergiques plutôt désagréables, allant de rougeurs au choc anaphylactique. Les coupables sont généralement les sulfites, ces conservateurs de synthèse auxquels 1 à 5 % des consommateurs de vins peuvent présenter une sensibilité. Face à la réglementation de plus en stricte et à la demande croissante des consommateurs pour des vins dits «propres», les producteurs de vin s’efforcent de trouver des substituts naturels aux sulfites. La PME néerlandaise Natural4Sure Company a créé un tel produit, baptisé 4Sure, qui permet d’empêcher l’oxydation et la croissance microbienne dans les aliments et les boissons. Le projet 4Sure, financé par l’UE, aide l’équipe à commercialiser son conservateur naturel révolutionnaire afin de renforcer la compétitivité des producteurs de vin européens et d’améliorer la santé des citoyens du monde entier ainsi que le plaisir que le vin leur procure.
Objectif
Europe is the world’s leading wine producer, however, it is a sector under threat by exports from “New World” wines. According to the EC, unless the European wine industry becomes more competitive and strengthens its reputation for quality wines, its days as market leader are numbered. Current accepted best practice to preserve wine is through the addition of regulated levels of sulphites (synthetic preservative recognised as allergenic substance), as there are no natural alternatives that can currently preserve wines as efficiently as sulphites, and therefore, totally avoid the use of sulphites during production. In contrast, consumer demand for clean label wines, considered high-quality, is going mainstream and, accordingly, the interest for wines without sulphites is on the rise. Upcoming EU regulations will force producers of alcoholic beverages to list all ingredients (thus, sulphites and relative quantity) on their labels, which will help consumers differentiate between high-quality wines (free-from synthetic additives, clean label) and poor-quality wines (with higher amounts of synthetic additives such as sulphites), currently impossible in this highly unregulated sector. If wine producers want to differentiate themselves from the competition and meet consumers' needs, it will be crucial, now, more than ever, to replace harmful, synthetic ingredients such as sulphites, with natural (e.g. plant based) preservatives offering similar functionalities. To meet producers' needs, Natural4Sure, advocator for high-quality wines, has developed a safe, natural alternative to sulphites; 4Sure, which can prevent oxidation, microbial growth and preserve colour in wines. In a future, 4Sure could also be applied to other food/beverage products containing sulphites as preservative. In 5 years from completion of the project, we expect to gain €12,3 million in cumulative profits, hire 32 new employees and achieve a ROI of €5,89 per euro invested in this project.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinateur
8181 NR HEERDE
Pays-Bas
L’entreprise s’est définie comme une PME (petite et moyenne entreprise) au moment de la signature de la convention de subvention.