Project description
Innovative technology to commercially exploit quinoa protein
Production of quinoa, an excellent source of protein and amino acids, has grown substantially in Europe over the last decade. However, there's no commercial exploitation of quinoa protein and its co-ingredients. This is because of the absence of any breakthrough fractionation technology that is adapted to the special nature of quinoa seeds. The EU-funded QUINNOVA project will use an innovative dry fractionation technology to unlock the full potential of quinoa. This environmentally friendly process uses less energy and water than alternative technologies. The project intends to scale up the technology to industrial level to help meet European demand for high-quality plant-based protein.
Objective
The European Union is seeking solutions for reducing its dependency on protein imports, while consumers shift from animal to plant-based proteins. As an example, the global plant protein ingredients market is expected to reach more than €11bn by 2025. Currently 98% of the protein in this market comes from soy and wheat. Soy is mainly imported from non-EU countries (where GMO crops are authorised) and its intensive cultivation causes severe environmental issues e.g. deforestation and land-use changes. On the other hand, wheat protein needs to find a gluten-free replacer. Thus, EU food manufacturers are searching for alternative plant-based sources for their protein-fortified food products, which leads to an urgent need to scale-up the production of plant-based protein from alternative sources.
Quinoa is recognised as an excellent crop with an outstanding protein quality and an amino acid score of 100% for adults. Its production in the EU has significantly grown in the last decade. However, commercial exploitation of quinoa-protein and its co-ingredients is not carried out because of the lack of breakthrough fractionation technology adapted to the special nature of quinoa seeds.
We are GreenFood50, a Dutch company devoted to the production and commercialisation of quinoa-derived ingredients. We have developed QUINNOVA, an innovative dry fractionation technology that allows to unlock the full potential of quinoa. QUINNOVA food ingredients are in line with consumer demands and their functional properties are ideal for being used in tasty bakery, health, sports, vegetarian/vegan and gluten free applications. The process is environmentally friendly, with a reduced energy and water demand compared to alternative technologies.
Our goal is to scale-up QUINNOVA to industrial level, contributing to cover the EU demand for high-quality plant-based protein. This will represent a quantum leap for GreenFood50, which will make food systems healthier and more sustainable.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fossil energy petroleum
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology colorectal cancer
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
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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.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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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.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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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) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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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.
6708 WH WAGENINGEN
Netherlands
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.