Valorisation of the carob pod into an added value natural extract for the food and drink industry

CERATONIA+

Project Description

GMFortún has developed a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly process to obtain from the carob pod a bioactive natural sweetener suited for the Food & Drink and Nutraceutical industry. It consists on a syrup with a balanced proportion of carbohydrates, PINITOL (a bioactive compound), minerals (very rich in Potassium) and refined polyphenols. This unique composition makes it nutritionally healthier than other sweeteners and a perfect sugar substitute, especially in the juice industry.

CERATONIA+ will bring important environmental benefits. The carob pod is a by-product of the carob tree’s fruit. The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a Mediterranean crop acknowledged by its environmental benefits: it can recover eroded soil, survive to heavy droughts and wildfires, improve soils’ fertility by fixing nitrogen and fix 3 times more CO2 than other woody crops with 2.5 times less water. Thanks to CERATONIA+, carob trees’ extension will grow in 5,500 ha. that will fix 114,876tn. of CO2/year.

Project Details

  • Call: H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
  • Phase: Phase I
  • Grant Agreement: 790025
  • Company: Gregorio Martínez Fortún
  • Starting date: December 2017
  • Duration: 5 months
  • Link: Cordis