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The innovation of primary production through the defense of crops with highly innovative methods and secondly the innovation of the transformation through food safety and the development of functional foods.

Summary

In light of the main strengths and, above all, weakness of the Italian olive oil sector in general and the Calabrian one in particular, LINFA project focuses on a defense action in the field of tree crops which are subject of research for a consequent increase in yields on the one hand, and on the other hand to raise the level of competitiveness of the entire supply chain, with particular attention to food safety. This set of actions will allow for its rational and adequate development.

The proposed intervention is structured in two macro-phases that, firstly, address the innovation of primary production through the defense of crops with highly innovative methods and, secondly, the innovation of the transformation through food safety and the development of functional foods.

Efforts have therefore been focused on the application of mild technologies that minimize the technological impact on bioactive molecules. Optimization of parameters for the extraction, purification and production of functional and nutraceutical ingredients allows the creation of innovative products that respond to the new demands for maintaining personal well-being through functional foods or nutraceutical / cosmeceutical products. Finally, the aim was to improve the safety levels and to safeguard consumers by identifying and reducing/degrading by physical, chemical or biotechnological means the anthropogenic contaminants (especially pesticides and their catabolites) and non-anthropogenic ones (mycotoxins and their metabolites), as well as any other unwanted compounds that may cause increased risk exposure to the consumers.