Project description
A microfluidics platform mimics digestion of plant-based proteins
Nearly one in three people globally do not have reliable access to adequate food. Replacing animal-based proteins with plant-based ones can enhance access to healthy foods. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EVALUATOR project will focus on plant colloidal emulsion systems and develop a microfluidic platform to dynamically assess technical emulsion stability and digestibility. The microfluidic platform will support real-time investigation at the micro- and nanometre scales at which basic food structure elements are formed and degraded, and within very short time spans mimicking natural process conditions via high-speed recording. It will link technological functionality and digestion, leading to rational design of healthier and greener food systems.
Objective
Access to healthy and sustainable foods is an existential priority as recognized by the UN, WHO, and EU. Replacing animal-based
proteins with their plant-based counterparts is expected to be a major step forward, due to a 2-8 fold (depending on
the species) increase in protein efficiency. In order to speed up this protein transition, methods need to become available to
allow for high-throughput evaluation of protein ingredients, in terms of technical functionality that rules food properties, and
physiological functionality that ultimately decides on effects taking place in the body.
The EVALUATOR project focusses on plant protein properties in colloidal emulsion systems, for which a tailor-made
microfluidic platform will be developed to dynamically assess technical emulsion stability and digestibility. For this, we
choose to work with pea and bean proteins that are readily available at low cost within the EU. The microfluidic platform
allows real-time investigation at micro and nanometre levels, the scales at which basic food structure elements are formed
and degraded, and within very short time spans through high-speed recording, therewith closely mimicking the actual
process conditions.
EVALUATOR will not only lead to the design of healthier and greener food systems but also supply a versatile microfluidic
platform that allows design from first principles, i.e. the actual protein properties as they are relevant for food production and
digestion. This brings food design, that currently revolves around trial and error, into a completely different realm, and even
more importantly, establishes the currently missing link between technological functionality and digestion.
The key for success is the combination of my background in microfluidic design and digestion, that of the hosts in emulsions
(WUR, The Netherlands) and the secondment (INRAE, France) in advanced digestive systems, which allows me to cover all
aspects of the EVALUATOR project in a ground-breaking way.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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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 PB Wageningen
Netherlands
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.