Investments in the start-up of fast and mobile analysis equipment

General introduction

To determine whether all new plant protein crops are a food commodity with proven quality and sustainability, smart in situ analyses are desirable. The aim of this project was to launch mobile analyses that use mobile equipment to support innovations at companies. This will help to clarify - quickly and accurately - how diverse and sustainable the different proteins are. This objective is part of the Flemish Protein Strategy and contributes to the so-called Smart Specialization Strategy of Flanders. Protein diversification means that people will consume more new proteins. These need to be tasty, high quality and safe to eat before they can appear in our diet. This requires in-depth analysis of protein quality. 

Research approach

The optimal and sustainable introduction of new vegetable protein crops in Belgian fields also requires insight into the emissions released from the field. Specifically, we measure greenhouse gas emissions such as N2O (nitrous oxide) rising from the soil with the mobile equipment. Investment has been made in suitable mobile analytical equipment for that purpose. Knowledge gaps regarding the quality and characteristics/behaviors of the (new) plant protein further down the chain have been addressed through in-depth analyses of protein quality with advanced analytical techniques (LC-HRMS). Such analyses allow to determine, in different processing steps of the new proteins, whether everything is and remains food safe, well composed and tasty. The data from the LC-HRMS, as one of many data sets, form the basis for developing faster and mobile measurement technology via spectral imaging and interpretation. Thus, the purchase of and smooth learning of a mobile deployable spectrophotometer was the final chapter in this project. A spectrophotometer is able to track quality throughout the entire cultivation and processing process and reveal possible optimizations during each step. 

Relevance/Valorisation

FAST-ANALAB was a promising project where the invested equipment and the associated accumulated knowledge are at the service of the protein shift in Flanders, and of the successful development of a (complete) plant-based protein-agrifood chain. Through the operation of the ILVO living labs, researchers will deploy the relevant research infrastructure for co-creative innovations in companies.