AINIA’s collaboration consisted of the development of additives against Clostridium botulinum as an alternative to the use of nitrites in meat products. Nitrites can generate carcinogenic nitrosamines, making it highly relevant to find a healthy alternative that maintains antimicrobial properties without altering sensory characteristics. AINIA has carried out in vitro evaluations and challenge tests in cooked meat products, and has developed predictive growth models as well as software that enables the estimation of the degree of growth or inhibition of C. botulinum based on the additive concentration in the product and the storage temperature. For the implementation of this project, the company received funding from CDTI.

This tool makes it possible to assess the sustainability of packaging based on different parameters. AINIA has supported and advised on defining the functionality category, establishing criteria for categorising the different variables and helping to validate the tool against various “best runners” jointly proposed by ECOEMBES and AINIA. Based on the results, adjustments have been made to the established parameters in order to resolve the issues identified. Within PACKCD, the functionality parameter is intended to highlight the primary role of packaging in protecting against spoilage agents (oxygen, water, light, loss of aromas) and preserving the food or product contained, making this a differentiating parameter of the tool developed by ECOEMBES.

This project aims to standardise the high procyanidin content in wines. Procyanidin is a polyphenol to which a cardioprotective effect is attributed. AINIA has participated in the project by carrying out an in vitro validation of bioaccessibility and cardioprotective effect. In particular, the gastrointestinal digestion process and colonic fermentation have been studied, evaluating the generation of secondary metabolites and the evolution of the intestinal microbiota. To assess the functional effect of wines rich in procyanidins, their impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors has been analysed: blood pressure homeostasis, insulin resistance, HDL cholesterol levels and obesity. This project has been supported by CDTI.

AINIA also collaborates with startups. This is the case of the company Key Biological, which has developed an ingredient called PeroxiBiokey®, consisting of a mixture of oils subjected to an ozonisation process, resulting in a product with interesting properties for use in cosmetics or healthcare products. However, the ozonisation process gives the oil a characteristic odour that the company wanted to mask. AINIA developed a tailored microencapsulation process for the company, making it possible to obtain a product that retains the beneficial properties of the original oil, in a non-agglomerated powder format and with no odour.

With a fully autonomous technology based on UV-LED radiation, this innovative preventive method can be applied after standard cleaning processes in companies to enhance safety.
AINIA has collaborated in verifying the effectiveness of this equipment in eliminating risk microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes, responsible for foodborne infections; fungi such as Aspergillus niger, highly resistant in food processing environments; and bacteriophage viruses (MS2 coliphage), used as surrogate viruses for more complex human viruses (such as norovirus or coronavirus), where effectiveness above 99% has been demonstrated.

The overall objective of the project is to investigate the application of photonic technologies in the agri-food chain to address the major challenges faced by society. The project involves AINIA, UPV, and a consortium made up of MULTISCAN, INCARLOPSA, PIGCHAMP, ROBOTNIK, PROPORSEG, TRIANGLE and NIT. It is funded by CDTI through the Misiones call.

The project developed by the company CLEANITY, with the support of AINIA, involves the design of a control tool for cleaning and disinfection procedures that enables their optimisation and standardisation, with a focus on minimising unnecessary water use and reducing waste. The use of advanced technologies based on AI techniques will allow this process to be controlled and will facilitate the implementation of improvements for increased water recycling and reuse. At the same time, the project aims to reduce the overall environmental impact of industrial decontamination activities through efficient and responsible management of process data. In this way, reviewing and improving current systems can lead to optimised dosing, minimisation of the most polluting products, and the recovery and/or recirculation of the agents currently used. This project is funded by AVI.

Development of hyperspectral imaging technology for hygienic quality control in the meat industry, funded by the CDTI, in which AINIA collaborates with INCARLOPSA.

Este proyecto va dirigido a crear nuevas herramientas digitales para la predicción y detección temprana de las principales plagas que amenazan los cultivos de cítricos. El objetivo es diseñar un sistema de control, más avanzado y preciso, que permita a los agricultores hacer frente a estas enfermedades en su etapa inicial, con el fin de optimizar los tratamientos aplicados y reducir su posible impacto medioambiental. Participan la Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores (AVA-ASAJA) y AINIA.

The project focuses on the comprehensive valorisation of agricultural waste from three major crop groups (citrus, watermelon and persimmon) to obtain ingredients with enhanced technological and nutritional properties, enabling the production of dairy desserts, gummies, snacks or toppings. POSTRES LACTEOS ROMAR and AINIA are involved in this project, which is funded by AVI, together with IATA-CSIC and ANECOOP.

Project for the valorisation of brines through the integration of sustainable technologies based on the concept of the circular economy. It enables giving a second life to brines by obtaining bioactive compounds with high added value, while also minimising the organic matter present in the brine by transforming it into an energy vector, resulting in purified water. The project involves ACEITUNAS CAZORLA, AINIA and ITC.