Sustain-a-bite has the ambition to develop innovative, affordable, energy and water efficient minimal processing solutions for plant-based ingredient and food production. The produced food prototypes will ensure maximal nutritional quality and health benefits, taking into account consumer perspectives. Our approach is to combine bioprocesses and non-thermal treatments that enable reduction of >30% energy and >50% water consumption, compared to highly processed plant-protein isolates. The technology concepts developed will reduce the consumer prices of plant-based foods by 25% compared to the commodity meat and dairy products making them more affordable. This novel co-(bio)processing concept will make a paradigm shift by disrupting the traditional plant ingredient processes, which generate substantial side-streams during production of highly refined isolates or concentrates. Sustain-a-bite food prototypes aim to diversify the use of plant ingredients in various forms, including liquids, semi-solids, and solids. This goes beyond addressing just the "protein challenge," as it utilizes the entire plant matrix to provide not only protein but also dietary fibre, essential minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. This approach maximizes nutritional quality and offers associated health benefits. The minimal processing solutions developed in Sustain-a-bite will aim at tailoring the structural architecture of the raw materials towards reduced anti-nutritional factors, enhanced satiety, nutrient bio-accessibility, and sensory quality. We will evaluate the effect of processing on macro- and micronutrient bioavailability, protein, and starch digestibility as well as gut microbiome by developing improved realistic predictive in vitro models. Sustainability, health and economic impacts of minimal processing will be assessed both at the product and system scales.
Today's food systems face dual challenges: promoting healthier diets while minimising environmental
impacts. European diets are nutritionally imbalanced, with high intake of animal-based proteins and low
dietary fibre. In response, plant-based foods are gaining popularity, but many rely on highly refined
ingredients that contain excessive additives and lack essential nutrients. Additionally, meat and dairy
production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and soil and water pollution.
Current plant-based alternatives, such as protein isolates or concentrates, do not resolve these issues as they
are resource-inefficient, demanding high water and energy and generating waste.
Sustain-a-bite aims to overcome the limitations of plant-based food systems in line with the Farm2Fork
Strategy of the EU Green Deal. By using sustainable, innovative minimal processing, our goal is to make
nutritious, tasty, and affordable plant-based foods a mainstream choice.
Working with key players across the food value chain- primary producers, food manufacturers, retailers,
researchers, food authorities, and consumers-Sustain-a-bite fosters innovation to drive acceptance and
adoption, supporting new market opportunities for both small and large enterprises. Through broad
collaboration, we seek to promote inclusive, local food systems, paving the way for healthier lifestyles and a
sustainable future for all.
Sustain-a-bite combines the knowledge, experience and tools of project partners from different research
areas, building on and complementing past and ongoing national and international projects. This approach
will create valuable synergies, foster cross-collaboration and provide opportunities to establish key external
partnerships, facilitated by the extensive networks of the consortium partners.
Sustain-a-bite is a HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation) project funded under the topic HORIZON-CL6-
2024-FARM2FORK-01-2 - "New healthy and sustainable food products and processes". The project will last
42 months, starting in October 2024 and ending in March 2028 |