3DSEA

Sustainable and extrudable 3D marine analogues through the development of innovative laminar-coaxial variable geometry 3D food printing technology.

Abstract:

The collaboration between COCUUS and Leitat aims to the design and build-up a new concept of 3D Food Printing Laminar-Coaxial Variable Geometry technology at pilot-scale to manufacture tuna, salmon and octopus analogues developed with plant-based proteins or fishery upcycled side-streams.

3DSEA will create new food products especially designed for the current market trendlines for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians, including usual fish consumers, driven by sustainability and premium products key vectors. Modification of vegetable proteins through extrusion technologies will design specific TVP optimized to be printed.

The new Laminar-Coaxial Variable Geometry technology will precisely simulate the muscle structure fibers and fat marbled infiltration of marine products, having
a realistic sensory experience and a balanced nutritional profile, and obtaining 3DF printed marine analogues with a high gastronomical value.

The outcome of the project will be the 3D printing development of two fish plant-based analogues (tuna and salmon), one cephalopod (octopus) plant-based analogues and two reconstituted fish (tuna and salmon) from upcycled fish side-streams. This will be achieved through the synergistic combination of technologies and processes that concern the entire value chain of food manufacturing, from its beginning, researching on the identification of different plant-based proteins and functional ingredients for marine analogues development, followed by application of advanced extrusion systems for the development of texturized vegetable proteins, including hybrid protein solutions, and texturization of proteins for the development and design of new formulations of analogues adapted to the 3DFP technology.

The research aimed to obtain sustainable food products that are B2B and B2C market-feasible for marine analogues, and value the new 3DFP pilot-plant equipment as a new technology to be acquired by the food manufacturers industry, placing Spain as a key technological market in the investigation
and implementation of 3DFP process field for marine analogues production. This approach includes the assurance of viability, security and traceability for all industries and processes researched in the project, as well as validating the acceptation and commercialization of the developed products.

3DSEA seeks to respond to the strategic objectives of the EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, improving current technologies and management strategies, incorporating circular economy principles and optimizing resources. Moreover, the project is aligned to Sustainable Development Goals, mainly health and well-being (SDG3) decent work and economic growth (SDG8), industry, innovation and
infrastructure (SDG9) and responsible production and consumption (SDG12).

Leitat’s Role in the Project: 

Leitat will act in the 3DSEA project as beneficiary member.