[GRASP] Bioconversion of Coffee and Olive Wastes via Food-Grade Microbial Co-cultures for Production of Proteins, Antioxidants, and Biosurfactants in a Single Process
Ente: EC
Scadenza: 2029-04-30
Importo max: 194.075 EUR
Paese: EU
Descrizione
Agro-industrial residues represent a major environmental and economic challenge, yet also a valuable source of functional biomolecules. Among them, spent coffee grounds (SCG) and olive mill waste (OMW) are produced in millions of tons annually in Europe, generating risks of eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil pollution. These residues are rich in proteins, lipids, and phenolic compounds, making them promising candidates for sustainable upcycling. However, current valorization strategies are fragmented, typically recovering single compounds through solvent-intensive or monoculture-based methods, with limited scalability and economic feasibility. Here we propose a food-grade microbial biorefinery (GRASP) that integrates microbial co-cultures, green recovery processes, and food technology validation to address this gap. A co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica will be optimized to simultaneously convert sugar- and lipid-rich fractions of SCG and OMW into proteins, biosurfactants, and antioxidants. Residue-derived phenolics and microbial antioxidants will be characterized by HPLC-MS/MS and complementary antioxidant assays, while proteins and biosurfactants will be recovered using ultrasound-assisted extraction, membrane separation, foam fractionation, and mild acid precipitation. Stabilization strategies, including spray-drying, alginate encapsulation, and co-precipitation, will generate multifunctional complexes with improved stability and bioaccessibility. The recovered fractions will then be validated in model food and nutraceutical systems (emulsions, oils, beverages) by assessing oxidative stability, emulsification, and nutritional enrichment. This integrated approach provides the first demonstration of multi-product recovery from SCG and OMW, creating scalable, clean-label ingredients that support EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork goals for sustainable food systems.
Settori: Horizon Europe Topics
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