Projects
INGENIOUS HETEROGENEOUS BEANS: unravelling variation during hydrothermal processing and digestion KU Leuven
Study of bioavailability and bioactivity of black carrot polyphenols using digestion models combined with a novel co-culture model of intestinal and endothelial cell lines. Ghent University
In this project, the bioavailability and bioactivity of black carrot polyphenols is investigated using a set of intestinal digestion models and cell models to simulate transport and endothelial activity. In addition, the effect of processing of the black carrot into marmelade and jam is investigated with the same models.
Improved Nutrient and Energy Management through Anaerobic Digestion Ghent University
This proposal, INEMAD will concentrate on Innovative strategies to reconnect livestock and crop prodution farming systems. New flows of energy and materials within the agricultural sector (or linked to the agricultural sector) will be analysed and will create opportunities for re-thinking the relation between crop and livestock production. Various options to cope with recycling, greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, and bio-based economy will need ...
HOW THE COMMON BEAN FOOD CHAIN AFFECTS MINERAL QUALITY KU Leuven
In order to prevent and overcome mineral deficiencies, healthy diets with a balanced nutritional profile are key. Common beans and other pulses contain significant amounts of minerals and are increasingly being suggested as important components of healthy diets. However, the mineral quality of a food product is not only determined by its mineral content but also by the bioaccessibility of the minerals. While the total mineral content ...
Unlocking the potential of plant proteins for structuring food by building structure-function relationships KU Leuven
A highly relevant topic in the global food system, now and in decades to come, is the shift from animal protein towards plant protein based foods. Proteins play important roles in determining food structure and texture, e.g. in gelled systems, fibrous meat products or dispersed systems such as food foams and emulsions. Most plant proteins have inferior technological functionality in such systems when compared to animal proteins. Establishing ...
Size and shape matter: dynamic image analysis for food and soft material applications KU Leuven
Agronomic and environmental assessment of bio-based fertilisers recovered from the processing of food and animal wastes. Ghent University
Novel bio-based fertilisers recovered from the processing of food and animal wastes have the potential to supplement or replace conventional mineral fertilisers. This PhD focuses on the comprehensive evaluation of such recovered fertilisers to determine their physicochemical composition, agronomic efficiency, and environmental performance in terms of carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions.
Impact of environmental pollution on proteome and allergome profyles of shellfish Ghent University
Shellfish are good indicators of pollution due to their capacity to bioaccumulate pollutants. The aim of the project is determination of proteome, allergome and digestome of shellfish that have been exposed to various levels of environmental oxidative stress due to exposure to inorganic pollutants. Project will demonstrate effects of polluted environment on shellfish protein expression signatures and proteins’ post-translational ...
Survival of foodborne pathogens in the human upper gastrointestinal tract: Design and analysis of an in vitro model system incorporating gut microbiota and absorption phenomena KU Leuven
Over the past few decades, microbial food safety has received a lot of attention. Yet foodborne infections remain a major burden, worldwide. The primary infection route of foodborne pathogens is through the consumption of contaminated food. Once ingested, incoming pathogens must succumb several antimicrobial barriers along the gastrointestinal tract before reaching an optimal site for attachment and colonization. These gastrointestinal ...