Future Technologies for Assuring Healthy and Safe Foods - Functional foods

Functional foods
Future technologies for healthy foods.

The challenge
The global market for functional foods has been assessed at US $50 billion. Nanotechnology (working at the molecular level) could give Victorian producers and processors a strategic advantage in this very profitable market.

The strategy
To develop nanotechnology to help produce functional foods for the controlled release of bioactives (compounds with medicinal or health-giving properties) and other valuable attributes.

The project

• Assess current nanotechnologies and equipment for their potential in the food industry.
• Develop the technology to incorporate bioactives in nanocapsules and use them as novel, value-adding ingredients in food products.
• Identify the new technology to produce appealing, healthy and cost competitive functional foods incorporating fruit/plant bioactives.
• Identify potential commercial partners and license the new knowledge and technology where appropriate.