Bio-Resource Valorization for the Production of High Value-added Biomolecules (BioValue)

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     Referred to as “biomass”, bioresources are defined as all materials of biological origin (excluding fossilized materials such as oil or coal). Terrestrial plants, algae, animals, micro-organisms and bio-waste produce or constitute bioresources. Bioresources are directly or indirectly derived from photosynthesis, and are renewable. Biomass is therefore at the heart of the bioeconomy, and is subdivided into agricultural biomass, forest biomass, marine biomass and biowaste.

     Bioresources are made up, in all their extreme richness and diversity, of molecules with complex structures whose functionalities have always met the various needs of mankind. The aim of the proposed research program is to extract, purify and identify high value-added biomolecules of food, nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical interest (essential oils, bioactive peptides, proteins, polyphenols, biopolymers, polysaccharides) and to evaluate their performance in certain biotechnological and food applications.

      Faced with new food trends, the reduction or prohibition of certain additives and the weight of food safety concerns, there is currently a strong trend towards a return to natural products. Natural bioresources represent an immense source of compounds of nutritional and pharmacological importance. The extraction of these bioactive compounds requires the adaptation of existing processes or the development of new ones. These active natural substances can be used as antioxidants, antibacterials, antifungals, insecticides, etc., to replace synthetic products whose negative effects on human health and the environment have been highlighted in recent years. The theme of this BioValue project is the study, optimization and development of new extraction processes based on innovative technologies, applicable to aromatic plants in particular, and to agricultural and marine bioresources.in general (agri-food co-products, marine biomasses) for the recovery of natural bioactive substances. Extraction processes using physical and/or biological treatments are characterized by their ability to extract high quality products (uncontaminated by solvents), with considerable savings in time and energy, and with a positive environmental impact (absence of waste and recovery of residues). The aim is, on the one hand, to enhance the value of our plant, algal and animal heritage, which is a source of added value but has so far been little exploited, and, on the other hand, to deepen our knowledge of extraction using these innovative processes, which requires a scientific effort to ensure their suitability for new applications.

    The project is characterized by the possibility of strengthening or setting up new processing industries for plant, marine and animal biomasses, resulting in high value-added products (natural antioxidants, natural preservative additives, essential oils, active ingredients, etc.). Given the abundance of biological resources in Tunisia, the project is conducting studies on their biological functionalities and developing methods for authenticating bioproducts and their geographical origins, as well as innovative production and processing technologies to ensure sustainable, eco-responsible production.

The BioValue project also focuses on the valorization of co-products from the region's agri-food industry. With a wide range of sectors represented (milk, meat, sugar, cereals, oils, etc.), the food industry is Tunisia's leading industrial sector in terms of sales, generating a large amount of organic waste of remarkable heterogeneity. However, although treatment is a priority for industrialists, it is still costly, even if the health and environmental consequences of poor management (soil contamination, odors, degradation of the aquatic environment, etc.) can prove unfortunate. The obvious solution would be to produce less waste, but at present, even if manufacturers are stepping up their efforts in this direction, this solution often reaches its limits in a context of already proven optimization. With such a vast and under-exploited potential, we need to think about better ways of recovering bio-waste.

A final part of this project will be devoted to the development and characterization of various matrices for incorporating molecules of interest from natural bioresources using encapsulation and compression technologies. In particular, the development of new high value-added products such as food supplements (functional foods and nutraceuticals), cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and the formulation of edible biofilms to preserve fragile products. The BioValue project also aims to enrich everyday foods with bioactive ingredients that could help promote health and reduce the risk of disease. To support product innovation, the project will define best practices from food design to health impact testing.