Wageningen University

IFF, Unilever and WUR address flavor challenges associated with alt meats

© IFF
Science

IFF Partners With Unilever and Wageningen University to Address Alt Meat Flavor Challenges

International flavor and fragrance producer IFF has announced it will be collaborating with Unilever and the Netherlands’ Wageningen University and Research (WUR) to address flavor challenges associated with plant-based meat. Plant-based proteins can sometimes have beany or bitter off-notes, which manufacturers of meat alternatives usually mask with other flavors. However, this may result in undesirable aroma characteristics. As part of a four-year project, IFF and Unilever will explore how flavors bind to protein molecules, with the aim of developing new flavoring strategies to improve the sensory qualities of meat alternatives. “Our mission is to understand and improve flavor quality in plant-based meat alternatives by unravelling the intricacies of protein interactions, to investigate flavor loss and elevate the overall flavor profile,” said Neil Da Costa, lead …

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Wageningen University partners with Protein Industries Canada

© Wageningen University
Protein

Protein Industries Canada Partners With Dutch University to Accelerate Alt Protein Transition

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) has announced a collaboration with Netherlands-based Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to support the transition to healthier and more sustainable proteins. As part of the collaboration, the organizations will commit to exchanging knowledge in order to accelerate the alt protein transition on both sides of the Atlantic. Canada and the Netherlands both have significant agricultural sectors, meaning they have considerable potential to contribute to a more plant-based future. Additionally, WUR is one of 36 universities worldwide with a chapter of the Alternative Protein Project — a student movement dedicated to alt protein education, research, and innovation. “I believe that living within the planetary boundaries is humanity’s greatest challenge. And we need each other’s knowledge and expertise for that. Canada is a …

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a graphic of a burger with the word plant based between the bread buns

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Ingredients

Project Investigates Microbial Contaminants in 80+ Plant-Based Ingredients

A public-private consortium is studying the prevalence of microbial contaminants in a range of plant-based foods. Animal-free foods are now more widely consumed than ever, but there is a lack of research into relevant food safety issues. The consortium aims to address this by studying the types of contaminants in over 80 different plant-based ingredients. More specifically, the project will investigate which pathogens are found in plant-based foods, whether they can survive processing, and how much of a risk they pose. It is hoped that this will improve food safety and reduce waste. The consortium consists of NIZO Food Research, Wageningen University & Research, and HAS Green Academy, along with numerous companies including Ripple Foods, Coca-Cola, and Tetra Pak. Funding has been contributed by Topsector …

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A vegan whole-cut

©Rival Foods
Fundraising

Rival Foods Raises €6M for High Tech Vegan Whole Cuts

Rival Foods, a company dedicated to plant-based whole cuts, recently announced the completion of its €6M Series A funding round. The raised funds will be invested in developing new formulations with next-generation protein sources, scaling up its technologies, and expanding its operational capabilities.   Based in the Netherlands, it was founded in 2019 by Birgit Dekkers and Ernst Breel as a technology spin-off company from Wageningen University & Research. Rival Foods’ aim is to develop plant-based whole cuts and future products using new technologies and processes. Rival Foods claims that by developing technologies, equipment, processes, and product compositions, it can make plant-based whole cuts that deliver the same fibrous texture, rich mouthfeel, and juiciness experience of an animal cut. Its processes also can turn a wide …

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national food security fungi-based solution

© NTU Singapore
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Singapore’s NTU Develops Highly Nutritious Fungi-Based Solution to National Food Insecurity

Researchers at NTU Singapore’s Food Science and Technology (FST) program have developed a new method for growing nutritious fungi-based solutions to address Singapore’s national food security issues. With more than 90% of its food currently being imported, Singapore is highly dependent on international food imports and highly affected by food security issues. In light of the complexity around Singapore’s food security, NTU FST was established as a cross-disciplinary effort to develop solutions for the issues arising in the city-state. Together with the prestigious Wageningen University and Research (WUR) from the Netherlands, Nanyang Technological University and NTU FST created the Food Science and Technology Program in 2014. Highly nutritious cultivated products According to the research program, the fungi that are utilized to produce the product are …

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