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BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram

CORE Organic Plus: EcoBerries - Ensuring quality and safety of organic food along the processing chain

Awarded: NOK 2.7 mill.

The main goal of the Ecoberries project has been to develop innovative sustainable processing and packaging technologies to boost the manufacturing of safe organic berry products with high nutritional quality and low environmental impact. This was achieved through the following work packages: WP1: Characterization of organic berries and products (nutritional quality and microbiological safety), WP2: Identification of new eco-efficient and biodegradable packaging solutions for shelf life extension and reduced food waste, WP3: Evaluation and developing of new mild processing technologies, WP4: Identification of sustainable technologies and production schemes, WP5: Evaluation of consumer acceptance to ensure quality of processed organic berries in the whole production chain, and WP6: Dissemination and recommendations. Nofima has participated in WP1 (task leader of WP1.2), in WP2 (WP2.1) and in WP5 (WP5.1 and 5.2 and task leader of WP5.3). Just activities related to these work packages are reported. WP1.2 Microbiological safety Organic and conventional strawberries, black currants and raspberries from Norway, Sweden and Finland were analyzed by culturing (using a harmonized protocol) for coliforms, fungi (molds and yeast) and total bacteria in 2016. The results revealed that organic and conventional berries were equally microbiologically safe. Further, DNA analyses of the bacterial composition revealed that the samples clustered according to berry type, and that there was no clear difference between conventional and organic berries. However, due to the problem with non-target DNA (plant DNA), this was based on very few sequences for some samples. Based on the fungal composition, samples clustered according to country and there seemed to be no systematic difference between conventional and organic berries. WP2.1/WP5.1 Literature studies and respiration characteristics WP2 is strongly linked to WP5, and D5.1 is a compilation of literature studies conducted in both WP2 (task 2.1) and WP5 (task 5.1). A literature study was conducted to identify technologies to handle the berries before packaging and critical factors limiting shelf life. Respiration rates for the Norwegian strawberry cultivars Zephyr and Sonata and the raspberry cultivar Glen Ample were experimentally measured. The biological variability was significant and experimental validation for each cultivar is thus necessary. The modelling tool "Tailorpack" at UMR IATE (France) used the respiration rate characteristics to identify O2 and CO2 optimal package permeability, and to predict evolution of O2 and CO2 concentration in packages and spoilage development. As the UMR IATE modelling tool does not include gas transmission rates through perforations, Nofimas' simplified modelling tool including gas permeation for perforations, was used in the design of packages for commercial application. WP5.2 Storage experiments Based on results from preliminary storage experiments with conventionally grown strawberries conducted in 2016, a main experiment was performed in August 2017. Organically and conventionally grown strawberries (cv. Sonata) from the same grower were stored either in high or low CO2 concentrations (Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)) or in open trays at either 5 °C (cold storage) or 5 °C followed by 1 day at 20 °C (realistic storage). After 7 days of storage the MAP packages had no weight loss, whereas the open trays had up to 8% weight loss. MAP had minor influence on microbiota, colour and chemical quality parameters. There was limited effect of elevated CO2 at cold storage. After one day storage at abused temperature, on the other hand, high CO2 decreased the occurrence of decay and spots, but the berries had developed chemical odour and flavour. Based on these results, it is recommended to store berries cold and in closed packages. WP5.3 Consumer studies Consumers' selection criteria for organic dried berries with varying price, origin, nutrients content and drying technology were investigated in Norway, Romania and Turkey in February 2017. Results showed that consumers on average were attached to conventional processing and national origin in their choices for organic dried strawberries. Consumers who were most open for newer mild processing technologies were under 30 years old, expressed trust in new food technologies and rejected higher prices. Consumers who were most attached to conventional processing technologies were 54-65 years old, expressed high interest in naturalness, organic production and health, expressed scepticism to new food technologies, and accepted higher prices. Future research may target communication approaches to reinforce trust in mild-processing technologies of organic berries in the general population.

The general objective of the project is to identify processing solutions to enhance the safety and overall quality and nutritional value of organic processed berries by adapting traditional processing methods to organic requirements, further developing methods that are not fully implemented and developing new sustainable processing schemes. Technologies to naturally extend the shelf-life of fresh berries and to process berries into added value products will also be considered. The technologies and processing schemes will be adapted to organic products and selected based on their environmental impact. Nofimas main contributions will be; Microbiological safety; comparison of differences in natural microbiota of the berries. The aim is to develop knowledge on microbiological spoilage, quality and food safety related microorganisms of organic berries. Microbiota profiling will be done using a polyphasic approach including high-throughput DNA sequencing. Nofima task leader. Proof of concept; To identify the most promising berry/packaging solutions, developed in the project, by measuring different quality aspects, such as microbial spoilage, changes in colour, texture and nutritional content during storage experiments. The selected quality parameters will thus be used to determined prolonged shelf life, if any, in relation to existing solutions. Consumer acceptance; Consumer acceptance of the developed berry products will be studied, using conjoint methodology on some of the products. The studies will be performed in Norway, Romania and Turkey. Nofima task leader. In addition Nofima will take part in the dissemination activities, as appropriate.

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BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram