Ministry of Economic Development (MISE)
Law 46/82 Technological Innovation Fund – PON Desk (Ministerial Decree 24/09/2009)
The project
The project “Development of Equipment for the Sterilization of Powdered Spices”, carried out by ProdAl in partnership with Airmec, aimed at designing and validating an innovative technological solution to enhance the microbiological safety of spices while preserving their quality, aroma, and sensory characteristics.
The development plan, structured around eight Specific Objectives, covered the entire industrial research, experimentation, and development process, from the technical-scientific feasibility study to the design, construction, and validation of a plant prototype. Over the 30-month project duration, the initiative led to the creation of an advanced equipment system dedicated to the sterilization of powdered spices, addressing the food sector’s growing need to combine food safety with high-quality standards.
The project’s distinctive feature lies in the adoption of an integrated approach, based on the synergistic combination of multiple treatment techniques designed to act complementarily and enhance microbial decontamination effectiveness. This approach overcame the limitations of traditional technologies, particularly in managing more resistant microorganisms and spores, while minimizing the impact on the physicochemical properties of the spices.
The results demonstrate the developed solution’s ability to:
- Ensure a significant reduction of microbial load, thereby increasing product safety;
- Maintain the aroma, taste, and intensity of spices, key elements for commercial valorization;
- Preserve sensory characteristics even after sterilization treatment.
The project thus represents a concrete example of applied innovation, successfully combining technological efficacy and product quality, and offering an advanced and sustainable response to the current and future needs of the food industry.
The advanced sterilization technology is designed to integrate with existing production lines with high scalability and process control, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and optimal operational performance.
Partners
The project was carried out by ProdAl Scarl in partnership with Airmec S.r.l.
