Functional food from waste
Teagasc scientists are using leftovers from plant-processing to generate functional food ingredients.
We all know that increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is good for us. However, it is estimated that one third of plants processed for food or animal-feed actually end up as waste. A lot of this waste contains healthy and nutritious components.
In Teagasc, we are studying what useful components we can recover from this waste including proteins, fibre and antioxidants. These recovered nutrients can then be used to make up new ingredients for food fortification.
These functional foods provide health-benefits besides nutrition, such as reducing the risk of certain diseases like diabetes, cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
Today at BTYSTE Teagasc Walsh Scholar Emily Verhulst will show us some of her work in this important area.
We invite you to visit the Teagasc stand at the 2023 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE), which takes place January 12-14 at the RDS, Dublin.
We will have a range of hands-on displays throughout the exhibition covering a range of science topics: soils, food safety, ash dieback disease, human digestion, milk sugars, cheese, superbugs, robotics, functional foods from waste, biocontrol of plant pathogens, aphid vectors and potato diseases.
Teagasc Education staff will be on-hand each day to answer any of your queries on education opportunities at Teagasc.
This year, 550 projects from 212 schools from across the island of Ireland will represent their schools in the BTYSTE.
Teagasc sponsors a special award at the event. The Teagasc prize is awarded to the project that best demonstrates a thorough understanding of the science of agricultural or food production, or the use of science to improve technologies available to agricultural or food production.
Visit the Teagasc stand in the exhibition hall W19 in the World of Science and Technology (Hall 4 – Industries Hall).
Book your ticket for this exciting event today by visiting https://btyoungscientist.com/. Follow the event on social media #BTYSTE2023