Healthy and Sustainable Nutrition in Focus
IGZ Scientists at the Science Symposium of Fruit Logistica
Fruits and vegetables are essential components of a healthy diet. They contain a variety of valuable plant compounds that can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or cancer. In her presentation, Prof Dr Franziska Hanschen explained the importance of secondary plant metabolites such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and sulfur-containing compounds. Special attention was given to glucosinolates, which are found in Brassica vegetables like cabbage. IGZ research shows that not only cultivation and storage conditions influence the formation of bioactive degradation products – including isothiocyanates – but also the processing of vegetables plays a crucial role.
Dr Anna Fricke (IGZ), together with Dr Oliver Schlüter (ATB), focused on the potential of macroalgae as a sustainable alternative to conventional plant-based food sources. In their presentation, they explored various aspects of macroalgae utilization: from the diversity of available species to cultivation methods and innovative processing techniques, which are being investigated in the “food4future” project. Key topics included the integration of algae into existing production systems and their potential as functional foods with health-promoting properties.
The Science Symposium was organized by the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) in collaboration with Fruit Logistica. In four sessions, international scientists presented their research on the production and processing of fruits and vegetables. The event facilitated an exchange between researchers and industry professionals to discuss new findings and possible applications.
Further Information
