PRO.ALI.FUN. Project

Programme: MIUR P.O.N. “Ricerca & Competitività” 2007-2013 per le Regioni della convergenza - Avviso n. 713/Ric. del 29/10/2010 - Titolo II - "Sviluppo/Potenziamento di DAT e di LPP"

Project Title: Innovative Technological and Clinical Protocols for the production of Functional Foods, identification code PON02_00186_2937475

Acronym: Pro.Ali.Fun

Duration: 2012-2015

Total Budget: € 9.428.245

Web site: http://www.darepuglia.it/?cat=22

Summary: Based on the estimation of consumer’s preferences with respect to healthy products, the Pro.Ali.Fun. project aims to develop new formulations of functional foods through the optimization of biotechnology protocols and extraction processes of nutraceuticals. In particular, this project will evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of functional foods (eg. innovative pasta, dairy products, processed fish, functional meat) on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, celiac disease and obesity. The Research Unit ISMAR-CNR (Lesina) is involved in Task 2 (Development of extraction methods of nutraceuticals). The research aims to develop specific methods for microalgae cultivation, extraction and purification of bioactive compounds (from microalgal biomass) by using supercritical fluids (SFE). The bio-activity of selected metabolites, phytosterols, will be tested. The experimental results will contribute in defining also the most appropriate formulation of this products for the market. The Research Unit ISMAR-CNR is carrying out a screening of microalgal strains and cultivation at pilot plant scale, optimizing the extraction parameters and testing the esterification of phytosterols.

Contact person in ISMAR:

Dr. Matteo Francavilla matteo.francavilla@fg.ismar.cnr.it

Partnership:

Università degli Studi di Foggia (Lead Partner)

Università degli Studi di Bari Università del Salento

CRA – Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura

CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IRCCS

Casa Sollievo

IAMB – Istituto Agronomico Mediterraneo

Farmalabor srl

BiocomLAB srl

Molini Tandoi Pellegrino spa

Tandoi Filippo e Adalberto Fratelli spa

Paste Tipiche Regionali srl

Ortoreale srl

Molino Campanaro srl

Balletta Industrie Alimentari srl

Tamma Industrie Alimentari di Capitanata

Azienda Agricola Ittica Caldoli

Lepore Mare srl

Sanguedolce srl

SICA srl

Pastificio Attilio Mastromauro – Granoro

Agriplan srl

Oropan srl