Project: Development of Pumpkin Pulp Formulation using a Sustainable Integrated Strategy

Acronym	PulpIng (Reference Number: 2019-SECTION2-22)
Project Topic	Given the current and future needs of human population and food security, it is necessary to move from the current unsustainable food system to a resource-efficient paradigm, based on a circular economy approach. This transition is urgent but complex, particularly because the multiple aspects of food production and consumption are closely interrelated. Nevertheless, the overall objective can be effectively achieved in regions with advantageous characteristics, such as the Mediterranean basin, where a high number of crops and native species can be rationally valorised for food production and for recovering of added value compounds from the generated by-products, fulfilling the needs associated to sustainable production systems in the entire food chain. PulpIng intends to stimulate and improve the sustainable valorisation of pumpkin in African and European countries in an integrative and waste-free manner. Pumpkin agronomic performance will be improved based on sustainable farming tools and the plant as a whole will be used, in a circular economy point of view. The chemical and nutritional profiles of the pumpkin fruit will be analysed, and further transformed into a pulp product targeting African and European markets. Besides, pumpkin by-products (rind and seeds) are to be screened for molecules with preservative potential and tested as food preservatives in the pumpkin pulp. Thus, safety issues and extended shelf-life will be assured by the incorporation of these natural ingredients/preservatives, obtained by optimized processes and innovative processing and preservation technologies. The viability of these processes will be proved through the execution of life-cycle cost analysis and the obtained results will be disseminated and exploited. A whole value-chain from nature to safe food products/ingredients will be generated, improving yields, creating jobs and fostering the local economies of the Mediterranean region.
Network	PRIMA
Call	Section 2 Call 2019 - Multi-topic

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Instituto Politécnico de Bragança	Coordinator	Portugal
2	Decorgel – Produtos Alimentares S.A.	Partner	Portugal
3	Collaborative Laboratory Mountains of Research	Partner	Portugal
4	Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico- Chimiques	Partner	Algeria
5	Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB)	Partner	Germany
6	Benha University	Partner	Egypt
9	University of Thessaly	Partner	Greece
10	Greek Fresh Vegetables IKE	Partner	Greece
11	Biotechnology center of Borj cedria	Partner	Tunisia