CHROMLAB-ANTIOXIDANT
Western Balkan Countries produce authentic healthy agricultural products, for example fruits, wine and herbal teas. Local research institutes can help to make better use of health aspects of these foods when promoting the products and promoting the agricultural resources of authentic foods in the region in general. For this, more research has to be done on the health promoting food constituents and the capacity to do this research has to be increased. In the CHROMLAB-ANTIOXIDANT project, the human and material capacity of three laboratories in the region for chemical characterization of the antioxidant compounds in food is increased.
Website: chromlab.pmf.ukim.edu.mk
Contact: marinaiv@iunona.pmf.ukim.edu.mk
Background
The trend of production and use of healthy food has focused the researchers’ attention on characterization of the phenolic profile of foods consumed in everyday diet. Fruits and fruit products are known to possess beneficial effects on health due to a wide variety of natural polyphenols and consequently a great antioxidant potential. Western Balkan Countries are predominantly agricultural with great potential for production of healthy food with authentic origin and specified health promoting composition.
CHROMLAB-ANTIOXIDANT will contribute to reinforcing capacity of the region for chemical characterization of the food antioxidant components by having the opportunity to obtain sophisticated equipment and train young researchers for that purpose and to exchange experience with research groups working in this field.
Objectives
CHROMLAB-ANTIOXIDANT main objectives are:
- Reinforcement of the research capacities of the laboratories in the Western Balkan Countries by getting new sophisticated instrumentation
- Improvement of the human potential in the region by engaging young researchers and their training in member states, and also by sending scientists for specialized training and preparing cooperative activities;
- Increasing the international cooperation in the region and with eminent research institutions in the member states with similar scientific interests and promotion of joint research activities of mutual benefit between the EU and the Western Balkan Countries.
Additionally, long-term outcomes are foreseen as follows:
- Enhanced participation in FP7 and more extensive scientific cooperation in the region;
- Combating the brain-drain in the region, increased job opportunities for young scientists;
- Awareness about the importance of food quality and capability of the laboratories in the region for its control.
Results
The activities within CHROMLAB-ANTIOXIDANT should result in reinforcement of the research capacity of the Western Balkan Countries, their competence and competitiveness in the area of food quality characterization with emphasis on the phenolic substances. Two labs have already been equipped with sophisticated equipment, young researchers trained in the partners laboratories and the first results on the phenolic composition of local grapes and wines as well as some traditional herbal teas are in a process of analysis.
Further activities will involve dissemination of the new possibilities of the laboratories to the food science researchers and food producers and making strategies for further research and development in the areas: food ingredients and healthy and functional foods aimed at exploring the potential of the region for production of healthy food with authentic origin and specified health promoting composition.
 |
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, |
 |
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, |
 |
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, |
 |
Department of Food Science and Technology, |
 |
Joint research unit “Science for Oenology”, |
Added Documents (Click to download)
