The AGRI-RESVAL project proposes the use of agricultural waste as a source of new natural antioxidant compounds (AOs), for use as inhibitors of lipid oxidation of fishery products, in order to preserve their food quality, their organoleptic properties and prolong their life. useful, responding to the challenge of implementing the circular economy in the agri-food sector.
A vertical indoor farming system will be used to achieve high vegetable production, optimized thanks to the exhaustive monitoring of growing conditions, in order to increase the antioxidant profile. This production model of natural AOs fits with the transversal objective of the CAP, since it represents an enormous qualitative leap in terms of the modernization of agricultural systems and facilitates their access to innovation, digitalization and traceability. In addition, production will be carried out without using fertile soil, reducing the cost of water and fertilizers, and using renewable energy sources and carbon capture technologies that will allow plants to increase the quality and yield of crops.
It will be possible to establish for the first time an innovative system for valorizing waste from the agri-food sector and improving the preservation of fishing products, increasing the competitiveness of these two key sectors. The expected results would contribute to promoting the application of innovative and environmentally friendly technologies, generating high value-added products from waste (discards and waste) through the production of natural OAs, reducing the side effects of synthetic ones, and increasing competitiveness and food quality of key products for healthy and sustainable nutrition.
Project objectives:
General objective: Obtaining and applying natural extracts rich in antioxidants from discards and agricultural waste to increase the useful life and quality of frozen Galician fishing and shellfish products, which suffer lipid oxidation during their conservation.
Specific objectives:
– Valorize discards and waste derived from the agricultural sector through the design of an innovative natural, sustainable extraction process that preserves the compounds with antioxidant activity present in different parts of the plants, which constitute agricultural waste.
– Select natural extracts from different parts of the plant with greater antioxidant activity that allow the maximum inhibition of lipid oxidation of products derived from fishing and shellfish harvesting without modifying their organoleptic properties.
– Validate the antioxidant efficacy of the natural extracts obtained – AGRI-RESVAL formulations – against synthetic extracts, without altering the organoleptic properties of frozen fishery products; first, on a laboratory scale and, later, on an industrial scale. Send the results to the sector for their transfer and replicability in different agri-food products.
Expected results:
– Obtaining a natural, sustainable and simple extraction protocol that is easily transferable to the agri-food sector, which allows the valorization of different discards and agricultural waste as raw material for natural antioxidants.
– Obtaining a range of natural extracts applicable to agri-food products, which increase their useful life without modifying their organoleptic properties.
– Validation of the antioxidant efficacy of the natural extracts obtained (AGRI-RESVAL formulations) compared to synthetic extracts, implementing in the Galician agri-food sector a range of natural, innovative extracts with high antioxidant capacity that, by valuing agricultural waste, allow an increase the profitability of foods rich in lipid compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), among others, omega 3 acids.
– Transfer of the solutions developed to promote their application and replicability in other agri-food products, promoting the sustainability and profitability of the sector.
The operational group is made up of a multidisciplinary team made up of Néboda Farms S.L., the University of Vigo (AgroBioTech for Health group), the Galician University Business Foundation (FEUGA) and, as a subcontracted entity, Nueva Pescanova Group.
This project is financed by aid for the implementation of innovative projects of the operational groups of the European Innovation Association (EIA), co-financed with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) within the framework of the Strategic Plan for agricultural policy common (PEPAC) 2023-2027. The Department of the Rural Environment is the body of the Galician Administration that is responsible for proposing and executing general guidelines in the rural area and encompasses powers in agriculture, livestock, rural development and regional planning, rural structures, agri-food and forestry industries. , forests, prevention and defense of forest fires. Budget: €140,000 (100% subsidy).
