PEF is already industrially well-established novel food processing technology, mainly used for softening of fruits/vegetable tissues (easier handling) and for mild-temperature liquid food preservation.

Currently, the application of PEF technology is limited for the food products such as milk and beer, where development of the unfavourable flavours was reported after PEF treatment. It is assumed that the appearance of the metallic taste is most probably caused by metal migration from electrodes. In this study different electrode materials will be tested and their influence on sensory and flavour properties of milk will be evaluated. Influence of different PEF processing parameters on electrode material release and flavour changes would additionally be examined.

Aim of the students master thesis is revealing the changes in milk flavor profile that cause development of undesirable (metallic) flavor after PEF treatment.

Insects are of increasing importance in food and feed sectors. Their use in fish, poultry and pig feed is already bringing both environmental and commercial benefits, showing large potentials of the sector and justifying predictions of quick growth in the coming years. Ability of insects to feed on different materials, including side streams and waste, makes them important parts of upscaling and circular processes in food and feed chains.

Modeling of insect rearing is therefore needed to better explain and help in application of optimal rearing conditions, tailor-made to specific insect species, available resources, planned processing methods and envisioned end-use. The goal is to fully use insects in a way that allows fully taking advantage of, on one side, available regional resources, such as side-streams and waste, and on the other, insects’ variability and adaptability, maximizing the production efficiency in each particular case and thus minimizing environmental impact.

The work on thesis "Modeling environmentally optimal insect rearing and processing" will initially include comprehensive data collection of locally available side-streams and waste, as well as literature review of insect rearing. Further, it will include building a model which will suggest possibilities of optimal utilizations of those resources for insect rearing. Finally, the thesis (Bachelor / Master) will include life cycle assessment with available and modelled data, measuring and comparing environmental impacts of insect production and processing, estimating eventually the most environmentally beneficial options and recommending ways to utilize insects in order to achieve optimal resource use.

We offer the opportunity to work independently on a 6- to 12-month project in the field of data science in an innovative and exciting environment.

Contamination of cooked and raw fermented meat products with the bacterial food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes continues to lead to product recalls and poses the risk of life-threatening infections. The combination of lytic bacteriophages and mild high pressure to inactivate the pathogen is intended to further reduce the risk of L. monocytogenes occurrence. In the project, a window for the high-pressure treatment will be determined that, together with bacteriophage treatment, allows significant inactivation of listeria without significantly affecting the sensory quality of the meat products. Considering the treatment sequence, possible synergistic effects will also be investigated.