The Alissec project, included in the call for strategic R&D projects, is promoted by companies and technology centres in the region such as Tutti Pasta, Apex, AN Group, Nagrifood, Public University of Navarra, University of Navarra and Alimentos Sanygran. Its aim is to involve the entire agrifood chain in adapting crops of high environmental interest and by-products to the latest market trends in terms of organoleptics, nutrition, health, convenience and cost.
In this sense, Alissec has succeeded in linking the beginning of the food chain from the primary sector to obtaining ready-made dishes for the end consumer, with highly nutritional and sustainable characteristics based on circular economy. This opens the door to the use of products of plant origin with a higher added value than they had until now due to a better use of protein, enhancing the improved sustainability of the agri-food system, validating and developing vegan products that are accepted by the end consumer.
Thus, for example, thanks to this initiative, the varieties of leguminous plants, such as peas, broad beans, chickpeas and lentils, which are of greatest interest for their yield and quality, have been identified, using more environmentally sustainable methods. These products of the consortium partners have also been valorised, looking at the possibilities they could have in new foods, and work has been done on the valorisation of industrial by-products.
On the other hand, those responsible have developed new methods for extracting biocompounds (polyphenols, glucosinolates, lycopene and dietary fibre) from broccoli, tomato and artichoke by-products, which have subsequently been used in the development of new ingredients and ready meals. For the extraction and recovery of these biocompounds, conditioning and stabilisation through different dehydration projects is key.
Likewise, formulations and prototypes of extruded products have been obtained with the three lines that Sanygran has, such as the dry extrusion line, wet extrusion lines and VEGGIAN technology, with which an analogue to minced meat but of vegetable origin is obtained.
Finally, another of Alissec’s major milestones has been a prototype nutraceutical powder based on high quality vegetable protein, soluble fibres and resistant starch. This formulation has been well appreciated by the volunteers.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR
The agri-food industry is one of the main engines for the creation of wealth and employment in the Autonomous Community of Navarre. Specifically, its productive fabric has an annual turnover of over 4,500 million euros, of which 1,129 million euros come from the activity generated by the primary sector. Furthermore, agri-food represents the second largest area of the Navarrese economy, accounting for 5% of total regional GDP and 14% of industrial GDP.
Navarrese companies cover the entire value chain from the primary sector to the agri-food industry, including the two most important producers of frozen vegetables in Spain (Ultracongelados Virto and Congelados de Navarra), the largest cooperative cereal group (AN Group) and the leading company in Spain in salads and ready-made fresh vegetables (Florette), as well as leading multinationals such as General Mills, Gelagri, Mondelez and Agrozumos. More information in the following link.
Source: navarra.es