The project “Biofunctionalization of national strategic crops to enhance their competitiveness in the market” aims for the biofunctionalization with essential micro/macroelements of three national strategic crops used as food matrices: tomato, corn, and olive for the production of table olives and oil, through the application of nanotechnology (nanofertilizers).
The BIODIF Operational Group is initiated, which includes researchers from the Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN-CSIC): Juana Frías, director of the center and CSIC coordinator, and Begoña de Ancos, Graciela Blanch, Cristina Martínez-Villaluenga and Elena Peñas as the research team.
This project seeks biofunctionalization with essential micro/macroelements of three national strategic crops used as food matrices: tomato, corn, and olive for the production of table olives and oil, through the application of nanotechnology (nanofertilizers).
Project Objectives
- Select the most interesting nutrients and bioactive compounds from a nutrition and health perspective and establish their analysis methodology.
- Characterize the impact of biofunctionalization on the agronomic, organoleptic, and nutritional properties of commercial and traditional varieties of tomato, corn, and olive in different environments.
- Evaluate the feasibility of nutritional claims/labels and health properties in crops of interest and certification of Good Practices of Circular Economy (BPEC)/Sustainable Agriculture.
- Analyze the implications for the management of agri-food companies regarding the incorporation of biofunctionalized foods into the market.
The BIODIF Operational Group is composed of 8 entities participating in different categories to achieve the project’s development and has a presence, through its components, in 8 Spanish provinces.
