The nutraceutical, functional food and cosmetic EU and worldwide markets are rapidly evolving sectors always in need to develop new classes of products. One of the most important market trends is the use of new bio-based ingredients obtained by environment-friendly extraction processes and testing methods. Of particular importance is the re-cycling and valorization of agro-food industry by-products as feedstocks for the isolation of bioactive molecules.
The BIORICE project aims to fill the gap of knowledge of the involved SMEs on rice protein by-product pre-treatment, peptide isolation and relative bioactivity and safety testing. In particular, BIORICE research activities will produce added value bioactive ingredients (semi-purified digestates and small molecular weight peptides) starting from protein by-products contained in the processing water of the rice starch production stream. The protein by-products will be pre-treated via biotechnological approaches (enzymatic proteolysis, microbial treatments) and different small molecular weight (5-15 kDa) peptides will be isolated by means of innovative eco-sustainable and not degrading techniques. A new method for in vitro evaluation of the skin sensitization potency will be developed so that the products will be tested without using laboratory animals. The BIORICE project brings together 6 partners distributed in 3 EU Member States and 1 Associated Country. In BIORICE 3 RTD Performers will make their multidisciplinary and complementary expertise in the areas of plant biotechnology, downstream processing and human tissue engineering available to 3 SMEs operating in the nutraceutical, food and cosmetic markets. The project results are expected to have a significant impact on the competitiveness of SME Participants that will be able to expand their business by adding to their product range new bioactive ingredients and protocols enabling new product formulations applicable in food, cosmetic and nutraceuticals sectors.
Coordinator
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA’ DI BOLOGNA
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche Geologiche e Ambientali-BIGEA
- Resp. Scientifico: Dott.ssa Annalisa Tassoni
Other participants
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V (Germany)
Sterlab S.a.s. (France)
Farcoderm France S.a.s. (France)
Amideria Il Cervo S.r.l. (Italy)
Principium S.a. (Switzerland)
Start date 01/11/2013
End date 31/10/2015
Duration 24 months
Project Reference 605285
Project cost 1.606.406,50 EURO
Project Funding 1.164.000 EURO
Area FP7- CAPACITIES – RESEARCH FOR SME
Subprogramme Area SME-2013-1: Research for SMEs
Contract type Research for the benefit of specific groups