3D printed biscuits project
Spoon-eat, 3D printed spoon-shaped biscuits, were the winning project of the Born from Knowledge (BfK) Awards, presented by ANI as part of the ECOTROPHELIA Portugal Prize, promoted by PortugalFoods.
The team received the Tree of Knowledge, a symbol of the union of art and technology, which expresses the values of scientific excellence and social and economic relevance, as well as a €1,000 cash prize and a voucher to visit the ANUGA Fair in Cologne, Germany, which will take place in October 2023.
The project was born from the knowledge of researchers from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia – Universidade de Lisboa and the Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa – Escola Superior de Comunicação Social. It is produced using 3D printing, using mostly Portuguese ingredients and by-products from the food industry, and is a healthy and sustainable alternative and an innovative source of vegetable protein and fibre. This product is a sustainable alternative to the options on the market.
According to the definition given by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), a sustainable diet is one that contributes to the food and nutritional security of the population and whose environmental impact is minimal.
Spoon-eat is aimed at people between the ages of 25 and 65 who are looking for new alternatives to eating biscuits and who are conscious of environmental impacts. Food and catering companies are also targets for this product so that they can demonstrate their concern for s
António Grilo, President of ANI, said that “Spoon-eat biscuits, as well as being an innovative product using 3D printing, are versatile and sustainable, and can be eaten in a variety of ways. It is a product in line with European concerns and directives, based on reducing the single use of plastics and adopting healthy and innovative alternatives that contribute to a diet with a low environmental impact.”
The ECOTROPHELIA Prize aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness in the agri-food sector at national and European level, bringing together and challenging students, teachers, researchers and professionals in the sector to reflect on the eco-innovative products of the future. Aimed at multidisciplinary teams of two to six higher education students, the ECOTROPHELIA Prize is designed to develop an innovative and sustainable food product at various levels, from concept, formulation, production, packaging to marketing, business and sales plans, without neglecting the nutritional and sensory aspects.
Born from Knowledge is a programme promoted by ANI that aims to promote a culture of valuing scientific and technological knowledge in Portugal, distinguishing and rewarding projects and companies that stand out in Research & Development (R&D) activities in Portugal.
