Improvement of tomato health-promoting effects via innovative combination of genotype choice, cultural practices and food technology – TomHealth

Among these factors, we will focus on the choice of tomato genotype and their growing conditions. Particular interest will be given to the irrigation strategy which increases the content of phytomicronutrients. Since a significant portion of tomato consumption is through dried powders, for convenience reasons, we will optimize this technological process to ensure optimal nutritional quality for the finished product.

Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phytomicronutrients presnt in these powders will be study. Finally, the preventive effect of these optimised tomato powders, in terms of cardiometabolic health, will be investigated in preclinical study followed and confirmed in clinical study.

Together, this project which is clearly trans-diciplinar, will generate new scientific data on one hand, and on the other hand will generated new market opportunities through the production of optimised tomato powders. Such approach will consider durability (through reduction of irrigation and waste) and promoting nutritional security and preventive nutrition.