Fraunhofer Innovation Platform at ITAL Campinas – Focus on Food Systems

The production of food and agricultural goods is one of the most important sectors of the Brazilian economy and contributes with over 18% to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

Sustainable increase in the competitiveness of the Brazilian food and agricultural production can be achieved by innovations in process technologies and the development of new products with higher added value. For this purpose, the Institute of Food Technology (ITAL) and Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) are establishing the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for New Food Systems at the Institute of Food Technology FIP-NFS@ITAL in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The research topics of the center will be concentrated on the integral use of all fractions in the agricultural production chain to prevent the competition of bioenergy and food production.

Based on the synergistic competences and common interests of both institutes in the fields of food technology, packaging technology, and biogenic raw materials, the main activities will be:

•      Energy and Materials from Renewable Resources, like hydrothermal carbonization of agricultural by-products, secondary plant metabolites in technical applications, biofuels and bio-based lubricating systems,

•      Innovations in Packaging Systems with focus on the development of active packaging, materials from renewable resources and bio-polymers,

•      Functionality, Health and Nutritional Aspects of Food, focusing on technologies for the enrichment of food with nutritional fibers and proteins, development of healthy ingredients and functional foods; and

•      Quality and Sensorial Aspects of Food, introducing innovative concepts of drying of fruits or controlled processing of cocoa and coffee aiming at the development of special flavors, or premium foods with higher added value.

The aim of the Partnership between the secretary of agriculture and food supply (SAA) of the State of São Paulo and Fraunhofer is to establish a culture of research and development that is driven by innovation with the aim to increase the added value across integrated food and bioenergy production chains.

The joint projects to be developed in the frame of the Fraunhofer Innovation Plataform at ITAL (FIP-NFS@ITAL) are intended to promote the partnership with/of industry in Brazil and Germany, with special focus on the integration of small and medium sized companies.