Goal

Helia Biomonitoring is spearheading the development of an innovative sensor system designed to revolutionize food quality control. This cutting-edge system is engineered for ease of use, offering continuous monitoring with straightforward cartridge replacement once per day. Its primary application is the testing of samples from industrial food processes. Unlike traditional lab analysis methods, which can take 1 to 3 days for results, this sensor system provides rapid measurements in just 5 minutes.

The overarching objectives of this project are:

• To measure anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) in samples extracted from a protein purification process.
• To devise a comprehensive protocol for process control grounded in measurement results.
• To formulate a strategic approach for the widespread adoption of the Helia sensor system within the food industry.

Challenges addressed:

The project initiated by Helia Biomonitoring aims to address a significant challenge in the plant-based protein industry. As a spin-off company from Eindhoven University of Technology, Helia specializes in developing platform sensor technology. The challenge at hand involves the development of industrial-scale extraction and purification processes that can produce high-quality plant-based proteins efficiently and sustainably.

One of the key hurdles in this endeavor is the variability in anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) present in feedstocks. These ANF levels can fluctuate and impact the efficiency, sustainability, and scalability of food-grade protein production processes. Helia Biomonitoring's project seeks to overcome this challenge by leveraging their sensor technology to measure ANF levels in samples from the protein purification process.

In essence, the project aims to provide a solution that enables precise ANF measurement, thereby facilitating better control and optimization of plant-based protein production processes. This, in turn, will contribute to the development of more efficient, sustainable, and scalable methods for producing high-quality plant-based proteins, addressing a critical challenge in the industry.

Expected benefits:

The sensor for ANF measurements is based on a platform technology of Helia Biomonitoring that can be used for measuring a variety of substances, with relevance for extraction processes, purification processes, and cell-based production processes.

The benefit of the project is that it will give insights into the suitability of the Helia sensor technology for rapid measurements and process control in extraction and purification of plant-based proteins. The project will also yield insights into application directions for different value chains and regional areas.

Award date: 10/26/2023

Duration: 9 months

Partner:

• HELIA BIOMONITORING B.V. www.heliabiomonitoring.com (The Netherlands)