The FOODIO project rewards the best healthy dairy product based on plant-based side streams from the food industry. VOUSSE has been chosen among four innovative proposals developed by 40 European students under the EIT Food programme, a pan-European consortium that focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation in the food sector.
The FOODIO, Food Solutions Master Class is an education project coordinated by the University of Helsinki in consortium with Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), IMDEA Food Institute, University of Hohenheim, TECHNION - Technological Institute of Israel and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)) and 3 food companies, Acesur, Valio and Herbstreith&Fox.
The FOODIO mentoring program has been undertaken throughout 2018, involving 40 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students from four European universities. The participants have organised their projects in four working groups to solve a challenge, find new products obtained from plant-based side streams from the food industry (olive oil and fruit juices), into healthy appetising dairy products.
The Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid was the venue for the final FOODIO gala on December 12, which was attended by more than 90 people and different representatives from the Education and Research Council of the Community of Madrid, the Autonomous University of Madrid and the National Research Council (CSIC), all of whom have supported the development of this initiative since its inception.
During the gala the four FOODIO groups presented their products:
- UNI-SAUCE a healthy cooking sauce based on olive oil side streams.
- CRISPILISCIOUS a crispy and healthy snacking alternative made from apple fibre and pumpkin seed flour.
- CHEEZY ROLL an innovative sustainable grilled cheese product based on side streams.
- VOUSSE: a kind of chocolate mousse that offers a delicious, sustainable plant-based dessert option for health and environmental conscious consumers, including vegans.
The jury of the program tasted all the products in real time to assess from the point of view of innovation, the ability to transform an idea into a truly new food product and have impact on sustainability, society and the economy.
Finally the winner product was VOUSSE developed by FISPA FOODS a start up project formed by 10 students, from three universities in Finland, Israel, and Spain. Mamata Bhattarai, Mohamad Azizkhani, Sharon Abderhalden, Laura Toppinen, and Pia Silventoinen from the University of Helsinki. Lital Cohen, Valeria Belochvostov, and Michael Faivush from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Maite Iriondo and Beatriz Fernández from Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
FISPA FOOD won a prize worth 2000 euros donated by project partner Valio, an important cooperative of dairy products in Finland. The health aspects in Vousse are emphasised through the nutritional claims of “source of fibre” and “reduced sugar”.
The challenge launched by the FOODIO project has allowed students to collaborate directly with food industries and consumers internationally for the creation of new functional foods for future nutrition.
About FOODIO, Food Solutions Master Class
The FOODIO program, Food Solutions Master Class, is a European educational project aligned with the strategy of the pan-European consortium EIT Food, to provide healthy and sustainable food for consumers. The objective is directly linked to the strategy of EIT Food to connect education and innovation in Europe, to adress consumer needs and specific problems in the food sector.
The FOODIO educational program, through a European network of academic and industrial tutors, has mentored 40 European students for one year to solve real-life challenges. FOODIO has selected multidisciplinary profiles to become future professionals in the food sector, acquiring competences in product formulation, new technologies, marketing, business creation and relevant aspects related to the consumers. This programme has given participants a co-creation and international learning experience embebed in a competitive context.
FOODIO is expected to advance healthy life-style in Europe and increase the sustainability of the food chain.