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The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) is an independent academy with a mission “...to promote engineering and economic sciences and the advancement of business and industry for the benefit of society.” We bring together leading engineers, economists, researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders in business and the public sector, who contribute generously to IVA’s operations through their intellectual capital and their engagement.

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IVA believes in humanity’s capacity to contribute positively to society through the engineering and economic sciences. We run a number of projects and programmes, produce reports, knowledge bases and policy proposals, and organise open seminars and meetings nationwide. We also recognise and encourage the efforts of others by awarding distinctions and grants.

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Bioactive-enriched plant foods via biotechnology

Bioactive-enriched plant foods via biotechnology

Plant-based ingredients are increasingly strategic for the food industry, yet many have untapped health potential. This research uses safe biotechnology to enrich foods with bioactive molecules such as GABA.

Year:

2026

University:

Lund University

Responsible Researcher:

Javier A. Linares-Pastén - PhD. Associate Professor, Principal Investigator.J. Mauricio Peñarrieta - PhD. Co-supervisor.Gabriela Ibieta - PhD. Jimena Ortiz-Sempértegui - PhD.

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Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring compound of interest for functional ingredient development due to its potential health-related benefits, but it is typically present at low concentrations in many plant sources. We have developed enzymatic and probiotic fermentation routes to enrich GABA in matrices derived from lupin, quinoa and potato. The results show that these routes can be adapted to various plant-based systems containing suitable natural precursors, offering a practical route to higher-value ingredients through mild, food-compatible processes.