NIZO and PSE form a centre of excellence for food product and process modelling

Dutch food and nutrition contract research organisation NIZO and UK-based Process Systems Enterprise have announced the formation of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Food Product and Process Modelling.

The CoE will provide a single point service that combines mechanistic product and process modelling tools with industry-leading food characterisation techniques and semi-industrial scale pilot facilities, by integrating NIZO’s expertise, pilot facilities and experience in food characterisation and modelling with PSE’s gPROMS modelling platform and unit operation model libraries.

The integrated software and services solutions will result in better designed and operated processes with less variability, leading to better product quality, lower energy use and hence CO₂ footprint, and more flexibility when dealing with varying raw ingredients.

Over and above the manufacturing benefits, the ability to combine models and experimental data to provide accurate prediction enables food and beverage organisations to explore the formulation and manufacturing decision space rapidly and effectively to accelerate design decisions.

PSE provides the gPROMS FormulatedProducts modelling suite for optimising the formulation and manufacture of formulated products, including food and pharmaceuticals, using high-fidelity process and material models of unit operations such as crystallisation and spray drying combined with product performance models.

PSE pioneered the systems-based pharmaceutics approach increasingly being adopted by major pharmaceutical companies and now being applied to food and nutrition.

NIZO, originally formed by the Dutch dairy industry but now a private and independent company, develops processes and products for food and health companies worldwide.

By applying science and technology expertise in proteins, bacteria and processing at laboratory scale and in its food-grade processing centre in Ede, the Netherlands, NIZO’s research helps customers create competitive advantage through development of novel products and production processes.