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Healthy Green Smoothies

Accelerating growth in food and drink businesses through the development of innovative and functional foods

 

SMART recovery aims to support businesses in the development of innovative and functional foods to promote recovery from the effects of the pandemic and stimulate growth through the creation of new opportunities realised as a result of the pandemic. There is a pressing need both now, and in the long-term, to help Wales manage non-communicable diseases, chronic conditions and improve recovery from long-term systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g., pre-diabetes and long-covid). A major factor of this strategy will be diet, with emphasis shifting to healthier diets to increase the health benefits of foods, alongside basic nutrition. There is thus a market gap for high value, niche ‘Functional Foods’ that purport to have health benefits.  

 

Together with representatives of the Welsh food and drink industry, we are developing a framework to assist in the development and exploitation of health enhancing food and drink. Through the research and development framework, we will support the development of ‘Functional Foods’ using naturally occurring bioactives, botanicals and supplements, particularly fine-tuning sustainable traditional ingredients, processes and recipes. Advanced analytical work and human clinical trials will test and validate these foods that may contribute to the health of individuals, alongside consumer perception trials to aid in increasing visual attraction and palatability.

 

The framework will contribute to the opening of niche markets into more mainstream markets and encourage growth in the Welsh Food and Drink industry. If you are developing an innovative and functional food or drink and would like support contact us at info@innovationstrategy.co.uk.

This project is funded by the Welsh Government Food and Drink Division. 

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