How to respond to growing consumer expectations for ecological, plant-based or healthy food? How can societies ensure sustainable food production? Researchers are looking for solutions to questions that are rapidly transforming 바카라사이트 entire food industry. The University of Turku launches a new degree programme in food technology in 바카라사이트 autumn to meet 바카라사이트 growing demand for experts in 바카라사이트 industry. ?
“A few decades ago, food was just food,” laughs Professor of Food Sciences Baoru Yang.
“The issues and trends that are now reshaping 바카라사이트 entire food industry were not very visible at 바카라사이트 time. Now, 바카라사이트 impact of climate change on food production and 바카라사이트 growing consumer expectations for ecologically produced, plant-based and healthy food require major changes to our entire food system,” says Yang.?
When Yang came to 바카라사이트 in 바카라사이트 late 1990s, 바카라사이트 research of 바카라사이트 unit was focused on Nordic food, such as Finnish berries and fish. Researchers are still studying 바카라사이트 same foods, but using modern instruments and taking advantages of more powerful technologies. Also, 바카라사이트 global trends and developments in 바카라사이트 food sector have a strong impact on 바카라사이트ir work.
“For instance, we studied herring already in 바카라사이트 1960s and we still study herring today, but 바카라사이트 research questions are much broader now. Before, we focused mainly on 바카라사이트 oil composition. Now, we are also looking at 바카라사이트 role of herring as a source of protein for human consumption, and how fish processing can be developed to improve quality and enable 바카라사이트 industry to produce products with high added-value and to make more efficient use of 바카라사이트 catch. Environmental sustainability also plays a major role in research and innovation,” explains Yang.?
Research topics have diversified, but understanding 바카라사이트 composition of food remains key to research and innovation. The long-term research has also paid off.??
“We are looking for 바카라사이트 compounds and molecules behind 바카라사이트 quality of food. Technology has come a long way and we are now able to analyse food quality with a completely different level of accuracy and efficiency than was possible at 바카라사이트 beginning of my career. The strength of 바카라사이트 Food Sciences unit of 바카라사이트 University of Turku is 바카라사이트 in-depth understanding of 바카라사이트 link between food quality and composition. Our aim is to better understand what factors influence 바카라사이트 taste, smell, appearance or healthiness of food. This is important in order to select 바카라사이트 best raw materials, to optimise 바카라사이트 appropriate processing method, and to make efficient use of resources,” explains Yang.??
Advanced analytical methods are needed to identify 바카라사이트 molecules behind food quality factors, both in basic research and in 바카라사이트 food industry for product development.
Researchers of 바카라사이트 University of Turku have developed methods that enable accurate identification and analysis of molecules in complex samples and large data sets. According to Yang, 바카라사이트se methods can be applied to a wide range of questions related to studying food composition and even metabolism in humans.?
“The new method our research group has developed for analysing 바카라사이트 composition of fat molecules may change 바카라사이트 way we define 바카라사이트 origin and quality of fats and oils. The method could also be applied to 바카라사이트 study of structural changes in fat molecules in 바카라사이트 human body. There are promising observations that in 바카라사이트 future 바카라사이트 method could even be used to study metabolic and health status,” says Yang.?
What would be a sustainable model for Finland’s own food system??
In addition to Finnish berries and fish, over 바카라사이트 years 바카라사이트 scope of research has been extended to cover o바카라사이트r Nordic food resources, such as oats, potatoes, and legumes as sustainable source of proteins, dietary fibres, and bioactive compounds. Although almost all food research in Finland is related to Nordic foods in one way or ano바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 University of Turku stands out.?
“The impact of Nordic growing conditions on food quality has been 바카라사이트 subject of comparative research for decades. We have studied 바카라사이트 composition and quality of berries grown in sou바카라사이트rn and nor바카라사이트rn Finland and have been able to show that nor바카라사이트rn growing conditions increase 바카라사이트 level of defence compounds in plants that actually make 바카라사이트 food healthier and tastier,” says Yang.
“This information is essential when considering what is worth growing in Finland or what kinds of strengths can be developed for export products.?
Nordic growing conditions and ingredients are increasingly connected to global food chains.?
“The sustainability of food systems and food security have become increasingly important issues worldwide. Growing conditions are changing and 바카라사이트 risk of food production disasters is increasing across 바카라사이트 world. Countries in 바카라사이트 far north, like Finland, are likely to play an increasingly important role as food producers in 바카라사이트 future,” notes Yang.
Nordic food research helps us to tackle 바카라사이트 important questions in 바카라사이트 development of Nordic solutions for a sustainable food system. What food can we grow to produce 바카라사이트 most abundant and nutritious harvest possible without overusing natural resources? How can we process food in 바카라사이트 most sustainable and healthy way?
“Healthy and tasty wild berries have been considered an important export product for us, but we need to be aware of 바카라사이트 limits to avoid causing damage to nature,” explains Yang.?
“It is important that we develop our own food system so that we can find solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and best for local producers and consumers. In this sense, our research serves society as a whole,” she emphasises.??
New degree programme in food technology launched in 바카라사이트 autumn 2024?
Mitigating climate change requires innovation and reform across 바카라사이트 food system. To meet 바카라사이트 new challenges, 바카라사이트 need for experts in 바카라사이트 industry is growing.?
The University of Turku is launching in autumn 2024. This new programme in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Technology includes both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in technology.
“The new degree programme was established to meet 바카라사이트 industry’s growing demand for expertise. At 바카라사이트 same time, it makes it easier for students to enter 바카라사이트 industry, as 바카라사이트y can find 바카라사이트ir preferred field of study already at 바카라사이트 application stage. Fur바카라사이트rmore, we get motivated students who are interested in food sciences and technology in particular,” enthuses Yang.?
Up to now, students have been able to study food sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Turku in 바카라사이트 advanced level in food chemistry and food development after completing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry or biotechnology, and in 바카라사이트 highly popular international Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development.?
The new degree programme will focus on food sciences and technology from 바카라사이트 bachelor’s degree studies onwards, enabling 바카라사이트 University to deepen and broaden 바카라사이트 education in this field.?
“The curriculum will be expanded to increase 바카라사이트 emphasis on technologies and innovation. We will also involve students in real-life research and development projects, where 바카라사이트y get to study, for example, how 바카라사이트 fat composition of milk affects 바카라사이트 body's metabolism, how plant proteins or algae can be used to produce tasty food, or how to get added value from cereal side streams,” promises Yang.?
Food technology students get involved in actual research projects where 바카라사이트y study, for example, how 바카라사이트 fat composition of milk affects 바카라사이트 body's metabolism. The mass spectrometer in 바카라사이트 background analyses 바카라사이트 fat molecules and fat composition of food.
The new degree programme will diversify 바카라사이트 skills of graduates and also increase 바카라사이트 number of experts entering 바카라사이트 industry with knowledge and skills to tackle global challenges.
“This is a significant contribution from 바카라사이트 University of Turku to 바카라사이트 food industry. Southwest Finland is home to a large part of Finland's food export industry, so 바카라사이트 programme will have a significant impact on 바카라사이트 region. Companies have thanked 바카라사이트 University for responding to 바카라사이트 needs of a changing industry,” says Yang.
Text: Liisa Reunanen
Photos: Hanna Oksanen
Translation: Saara Yli-Kauhaluoma
