Welcome to the Nutra-Snacks project!

Nutra-snacks is a project funded by the European Commission within the Call FP 6-2004-FOOD-3.
The Project concerns the application of plant cell and in vitro culture systems together with a biotechnological approach in the production of new high quality ready-to-eat food useful in promoting public health. Nutra-Snacks aims at the production of food with a high content of natural metabolites whose: anticancer, antilipidemic, anticholesterol, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihypertensive, antiinflamatory and antioxidant activities etc.

The team, is composed of 5 EU Member States and a group from a Member State candidate (7 research institutes and three SMEs) have been acknowledged groups from the community.

The main objectives of the team are as follows:
To select organisms producing natural biologically active metabolites whose anticancer, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihypertensive, anti-inflamatory, anticholinergics and antioxidant activities have been acknowledged.
To construct a bioreactor/sensor for innovative plant cells and in vitro systems suitable for use in nutrient production; to establish protocols for the production of such biological material enriched in functional metabolites capable of counteracting major health risks.
To establish safety and quality control protocols for such ready-to-eat-food
To Contribute in drawing up standards for new regulations regarding Nutraceutics.
The basic research comprises the use of genetic transformants in order to enhance the synthesis of the desired metabolites as “biological factories” for the further extraction of functional metabolites to be used as food additives.
The highest priority will be given to the production of new ready-to-eat food for breakfast, snacks and as the nutrition for sportsmen and women.