To improve the utilisation and value of the unique phenolic antioxidants and oil found in UK oats and so provide new, non-food markets for oat growers.
ABIPO Project
Aim
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- Produce existing oat varieties in a way that maximises the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds and minimises the amount of post harvest modification required.
- Probe a unique oat gene pool to identify oat lines which have the desired characteristics.
- Study conventional and novel extraction technologies to provide fractions containing specific active compounds.
- Assess the potential of these fractions for use in a range of personal care products.
- Deliver commercially viable products through a novel combination of chemistry, biotechnology and process engineering Provide a new market for UK cereal growers.
More Info
Oats are perceived very favourably by the consumer and have an established history of use and known safety in food applications. Previous work on oats has concentrated on the dietary health benefits of the b-glucan fraction of oats; but less is understood, both scientifically and commercially, about the performance of both oat oil and the constituent oat antioxidants in personal care and health products.
The Oatec project (phase 1 1995-1997; phase 2 1999-2001) was tasked to provide a clear indication of the market potential, technology needs and financial viability of an oat fractionation plant located in the Marches area. It has assisted the UK in developing a level of knowledge and expertise in the area of advanced oat fractionation that is unparalleled in Europe or the US, however it did not look in detail at the technical aspects of processing oat antioxidants.ourably by the consumer and have an established history of use and known safety in food applications. Previous work on oats has concentrated on the dietary health benefits of the b-glucan fraction of oats; but less is understood, both scientifically and commercially, about the performance of both oat oil and the constituent oat antioxidants in personal care and health products.
ABIPO is under the Competitive Industrial Material from Non-Food Crops LINK programme. This project brings together academic and industrial partners who have developed good relations over recent years. Links were forged during the HGCA funded INNOVATION project.