The project brings together 17 entities from 9 different countries. Among the participants are research centers focused on scientific and technological innovation, academic institutions, companies, clusters, and associations from the food industry. All these entities are collaborating within the framework of the Horizon Europe program.
The project kicked off on December 12 and 13, 2024, with the inaugural meeting held at Fundació Alícia, in Món Sant Benet. During these sessions, participants laid the groundwork for the project, defining objectives and work lines. The event featured experts from various fields who discussed innovative strategies and technologies that will guide the project’s development in the coming years.
Through innovative technologies, such as microbial fermentation, DELICIOUS aims to enhance the sensory and nutritional properties of plant-based dairy products. Simultaneously, it incorporates consumer preferences and reduces the environmental impact by up to 30% compared to conventional dairy production processes.
Alícia’s contribution to the project focuses on analyzing consumer and culinary professionals’ perceptions. We evaluate the properties of the plant-based cheese and kefir prototypes, ensuring they meet quality, taste, and texture standards.
Our work includes identifying the culinary needs and requirements for these products, as well as detecting aspects for improvement to align them with market expectations.
We also conduct evaluations of chefs’ acceptance. The developed prototypes are presented to culinary professionals to gather their impressions and suggestions, a key step in refining the products and adapting them to the needs of the gastronomic sector.
So far, the project has achieved significant progress in developing technologies to produce plant-based dairy with improved sensory characteristics. Thanks to collaboration with research entities and culinary experts, prototypes have been created and are currently in the testing phase.
With the goal of offering sustainable and appealing alternatives for consumers, DELICIOUS continues working to establish a new standard in the plant-based dairy industry.
At Fundació Alícia, we reaffirm our commitment to integrating science and cuisine to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that address society’s dietary needs.
