A team of professors from the University of Thessaly is participating in the European innovation project DELICIOUS. The interdisciplinary scientific team includes Assistant Professor Foteini F. Parlapani (Project Leader for the University of Thessaly), Professor Ioannis S. Boziaris from the Department of Agriculture, Ichthyology, and Aquatic Environment at the School of Agricultural Sciences, as well as Assistant Professor Myrsini Kakagianni and Associate Professor Theodoros Goulas from the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, all from the University of Thessaly.
The team is involved in the DELICIOUS project, titled “Improving the taste, aroma, and texture of plant-based dairy products using microbial fermentation products,” in collaboration with the Laboratory of Food Chemistry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The role of the University of Thessaly in the project is to identify microbial communities in plant-based kefir and cheese and study the microbial safety of such products by developing and applying predictive models for the growth of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria and fungi. Additionally, they will quantitatively assess microbial and chemical risks (QMRA/QRA) to evaluate increased risks from fungi, bacteria, and mycotoxins in these novel products.
On December 12 and 13, the official kick-off meeting for the project was held at the Fundació Alícia in Mont Sant Benet, Barcelona, Spain.
With the global market for plant-based foods expected to reach €40 billion by 2027 and increasing demand for sustainable diets, DELICIOUS aims to accelerate the transition by developing technology that combines microbial fermentation with plant-based raw materials. This will result in affordable, safe, and tasty plant-based dairy products, such as cheese and kefir, with up to 30% reduced environmental impact. Led by the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, DELICIOUS leverages cutting-edge technologies, such as high-throughput screening and machine learning, to enhance the sensory and nutritional properties of plant-based dairy products.
“By integrating advanced technology with consumer insights, we aim to accelerate the shift toward plant-based diets and set a new standard for the plant-based dairy industry,” said Harilaos Xiros, Project Coordinator.
Learn more about the project:
Website: www.deliciousproject.com
Twitter: @delicious_eu
LinkedIn: Delicious EU
