The “GO BIODIF” project begins

The project “Biofunctionalization of national strategic crops to improve their competitiveness in the market” pursues the biofunctionalization with essential micro/macroelements of three national strategic crops used as food matrices (tomato, corn and olive) for the production of table olives and oil, through the application of nanotechnology (nanofertilizers).

Start the BIODIF Operational Group in which researchers from the Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN-CSIC): Juana Frias, director of the center and CSIC coordinator and Begoña de Ancos, Graciela Blanch, Cristina Martinez-Villaluenga and Elena Peñas as a research team.

This project seeks the biofunctionalization with essential micro/macroelements of three strategic national crops used as food matrices (tomato, corn and olive) for the production of table olives and oil, through the application of nanotechnology (nanofertilizers).

Project objectives

• Select the most interesting nutrients and bioactive compounds from the nutritional and health perspective and establish their analysis methodology.
• To characterize the impact of biofunctionalization on the agronomic, organoleptic and nutritional properties of commercial and traditional varieties of tomato, corn and olive in different environments.
• Evaluate the feasibility of nutritional claims/labeling and health properties on crops of interest and certification/s of Good Circular Economy Practices (BPEC)/Sustainable Agriculture.
• Analyze the implications for the management of agri-food companies of the incorporation of biofunctionalized foods into the market.

The BIODIF Operational Group is made up of 8 entities that participate in different categories to achieve the development of the project and is present, through its components, in 8 Spanish provinces.