MINIScreen: Fast-track development of plant-based products
The benefits
In short- Rapid screening of fermentation conditions in miniaturized product matrices
- Improved flavour, texture, and cross-linking properties of proteins
- Supports clean-label and nutritionally improved formulations
- De-risks R&D with faster, resource-efficient development
- Tailor-made solutions for plant-based product innovation
WUR’s MINIScreen enables fast, efficient optimisation of plant-based products through fermentation technology, delivering better flavour, texture, and shelf-life with reduced R&D risks.
The MINIScreen approach can be used for multiple purposes that result in the improvement of the performance and overall quality of plant-based products:
Delivering the right a) flavour and b) structure (texture) via screening for:
a. fermenting cultures and conditions that produce desirable components or improve functionality or remove undesirable aspects, e.g. mitigation of off-flavours
b. fermenting cultures and conditions that result in improved cross-linking properties of proteins as a result of proteolytic activity or by production of polysaccharides
- Clean label solutions resulting in safe and/or nutritionally improved foods via e.g. screening for fermentation conditions resulting in shelf-life extension, enrichment of vitamin levels (e.g. B12) or foods requiring less sodium by producing umami compounds.
About MINIScreen
Developing high-quality plant-based foods is challenging, requiring improvements in flavour, texture, and nutritional profile while meeting consumer demands for clean-label solutions. Food & Biobased Research developed MINIScreen (Matrix INteractIon Screening), a miniaturized, high-throughput approach that accelerates fermentation-based innovation directly in the relevant product matrix. Food manufacturers can use MINIScreen to identify fermentation cultures and conditions that remove off-flavours, improve protein cross-linking, extend shelf-life, or enrich products with vitamins and umami compounds
Do you have a question about MINIscreen?
Contact our experts to learn how MINIScreen can support your plant-based product development.
J (Joost) Blankestijn
Programme Manager Sustainable Nutritious Foods