APROPOS

Added value from high protein & high oil industrial co-streams

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The focus of APROPOS is to develop novel eco-efficient bio-mechanical processing solutions to enrich intermediate fractions from industrial high protein and oil-containing process residues originating from agriculture and fisheries. Enzyme-aided modification steps are developed for the intermediate fractions to obtain value-added nutritive and bio-active components, chemical as well as functional bio-materials suitable for exploitation in food, skin care, wound healing, bio-pesticide and soil improvement product applications. Mentioned residues are voluminous in Europe and globally significant. Zero waste concepts to be developed aim at avoidance of unnecessary purification of the components, establishment of local and distributed processing units in connection with the primary production and new business opportunities essentially for SMEs in Europe and beyond. An emphasis is directed to East Africa and India to support their needs to process local residues to components directed to nourish infants and fight against pests, respectively, in rural areas of both regions. The success of technological developments will be assessed in terms of economical feasibility, raw material efficiency and environmental impacts. The assessment will also include study on how the developed residue producer-end use value chain will affect the existing value chain from the residue producer to feed or energy. The multidisciplinary research group and cross-industrial SME group together cover the whole value chain from residue producers and processors to various end-users. The expertises of the partners include crop and fish processing, process hard ware manufacture, mechanical, chemical and biotechnical biomaterial processing, biomaterial up-grading and analytics, enzyme technology, end-product applications, assessment of eco-efficiency and value chains, technology transfer and commercialization. Feasibility of the developed processes is verified by demonstrations. Bio-mechanical processi'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Underused by-products from fish and oil seed processing are being developed as affordable and ecologically friendly high protein containing ingredients for foods and cosmetics as well as biopestisides for crop protection.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The agriculture and aquaculture industries generate protein- and oil-rich co -streams during processing. Despite potentially adding value to products like foods and cosmetics, these co-streams are not used for human consumption and can be even discarded.

The EU-funded http://www.euapropos.eu/ (APROPOS) (Added value from high protein & high oil industrial co-streams) project aimed to enrich these co-streams from processed oils seeds and fish to be used in food, skincare and agricultural products. APROPOS developed methods for extracting and enriching key intermediates from rapeseed and mustard plants and salmon and nile perch.

For example, glucosinolates, which are anti-pest compounds derived from mustard seed, were enriched from mustard oil press cakes for use in biopesticides. These compounds will be particularly useful for pest control in India, where mustard plants are widely grown. In addition mustard press-cakes are rich in protein and can therefore upgraded also for food use.

Researchers also looked at the potential of rapeseed and salmon proteins hydrolysed to peptides to be used as bioactive compounds in skincare products. Although these components showed promise in practice, further process and product development is needed.

One of the APROPOS' success stories is likely to be the production of nutritious components from nile perch filleting residues, destined as high-protein supplements for the African poor. Since around 50 % of fish caught by African fishermen is left behind after filleting, turning this residue into a valuable supplement for nutrition will also reduce pollution.

As APROPOS aims to use completely the residue of fish-processing, researchers are also developing biofertilisers from the bone fraction left after separating proteins and oils. This fits well with current global demand for waste-free biorefinery and health-improving natural products.

It is clear that the APROPOS project has provided practical means to help valorising co-streams, reducing waste, improving food security and ensuring sustainable industry practices.