Co-Product Exploitation Cluster
Aims
In this cluster we are contributing to new methods
of analysing food processing waste and the development of novel,
economically feasible methods of upgrading waste to increase its
value.
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Waste from food processing - a common
sight |
Benefits
We are combining the practical experience of the
Industrial Cluster members with the fundamental research knowledge
of IFR and collaborating centres of excellence to give new insights
allowing:
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Identification of economically interesting quantities
of materials containing accessible and valuable components
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Setting up of guidelines for the identification
of useful components and the quantities available
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Identification of areas of particular interest
and the availability of grant funding (environmental impact)
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Environmental issues affect us all |
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Dry outer scales of onion waste and a coloured
fibre product - a source of quercitin and calcium oxalate |
Who Should Join?
Although the results will be widely applicable, they
are likely to be of particular interest to producers of plant based
materials i.e. fruit, vegetables, cereals, either as the raw material
or related derivatives.
The Cluster will be of particular interest to managers
wishing to reduce their waste disposal costs (particularly in the
light of recent and forthcoming legislation) or even to turn a waste
stream into an income stream.
IFR
Skill Base Underlying the Cluster
Many of the skills underlying this Cluster
have derived from IFR's long experience of understanding the structural
aspects of plants, and the way in which these affect quality attributes
such as texture.
The knowledge gained from these studies now enables
us to develop novel means (physical, chemical and biochemical)
to recover potentially useful components from food industry waste.
Molecular Structure of Plant Species
Multidisciplinary Approaches
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Integrated science to understand how to exploit
the interactions between the building blocks
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Elucidating the nature of the components responsible
for cell adhesion
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Understanding molecular interactions (e.g. protein:protein,
enzyme:substrate)
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White fleshy scales of onion waste - a
source of instant thickening agents |
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Chinese water chestnut single cell showing
the location of ferulic acid components responsible for
maintenance of cell adhesion |
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Many components of produce are regarded
as waste - how can we mitigate the costs and environmental
impact? |
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Fractionation and Extraction of High Value Products
- We have already demonstrated this by producing a new
thickener from onion waste, and by extracting flavours and nutritionally
significant phytochemicals from alliums and cereals.
Access to Skills for Assessment of Novel Products
Cluster Events
The Cluster will hold a series of one-day meetings
and workshops designed to explore and address scientific and technical
issues of concern to the industry.
The Clusters will be a true partnership between
scientists and Industry Professionals, and so the details and
topics to be addressed will be dependent on the wishes of the
Industrial Cluster members. However, the following suggestions
for Cluster focus days give a flavour of what we expect:
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New Thickeners from Onion Waste ? A Case
Study
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"Anti-Cancer Agents" from Plant Waste?
? The Science Behind the Headlines
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Whole Waste Utilisation
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Making the Most of your Wash Water ? Liability
or resource?
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