Description du projet
Optimiser les technologies durables pour assurer la salubrité des aliments
Les technologies durables (champ électrique pulsé, ultrasons, plasma non thermique et haute pression hydrostatique) fournissent des produits alimentaires nutritifs et des solutions de résistance aux antimicrobiens. Néanmoins, l’application de ces technologies est actuellement limitée dans l’industrie alimentaire. Le projet TRANSIT, financé par l’UE, rassemble 13 organisations participantes de huit pays européens pour former la prochaine génération de scientifiques afin d’optimiser et de stimuler l’utilité de ces technologies durables dans l’industrie alimentaire. TRANSIT identifiera les principales cibles moléculaires microbiennes dans les pathogènes associés aux aliments et les organismes de détérioration et concevra des stratégies efficaces d’impact antimicrobien pour les technologies non thermiques. De concert avec des partenaires industriels de renom, la gamme de produits à appliquer sera étendue en tenant compte de l’acceptation par les consommateurs, et une mise à l’échelle de l’équipement sera réalisée pour accélérer la mise sur le marché des aliments produits de manière durable.
Objectif
Over the last few decades major efforts have been made to develop innovative food technologies that deliver safe, nutritious foods with high organoleptic qualities that meet consumer demands. Sustainable technologies such as Pulsed Electric Field, Ultrasound, Non-Thermal Plasma and High Hydrostatic Pressure offer consumer benefits like clean label food products and solutions to anti-microbial resistance. Nevertheless, their application is currently limited in the food industry. Some key technical blockers of wider application include the narrow range of product applications realized, variability in antimicrobial effects and engineering challenges related to upscaling. Additionally, consumer acceptance is currently low. TRANSIT brings together 13 participating organisations from 8 European countries to offer the necessary interdisciplinary and intersectoral training to the next generation of scientists to optimize and drive utility of these sustainable technologies in the food industry. Participants’ expertise at the interfaces of microbiology, process technology, cost benefit analyses, risk assessment and consumer sciences will provide comprehensive training to ten ESRs. Using a functional genomics approach, TRANSIT will identify the main microbial molecular targets in five model species that represent major food associated pathogens and spoilage organisms and will design effective antimicrobial impact strategies for the non-thermal technologies accordingly. In concert with renowned industrial partners, the product range for application will be extended and upscaling of the equipment will be realised. Importantly consumer acceptance studies will be used to support broader product application of the optimized technologies in the food industry. TRANSIT will nurture successful collaborative relationships between first-class universities, companies, governmental and research institutions, and contribute to the competitiveness and leadership of the food sector in Europe.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsfluid statics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticsultrasound
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinateur
6708 PB Wageningen
Pays-Bas