On 5 November 2024, Grigorios Chalmoukos, a PhD candidate from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, delivered an online seminar-lecture that highlighted the innovative potential of Pomegranate Seed Oil (PSO) in the food industry, aligning with EXCEL4MED’s mission to drive sustainability and innovation in Mediterranean food systems.

This seminar, hosted by the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of West Attica, attracted a diverse audience of faculty, technical staff and students, both undergraduate and postgraduate.

A recording of the seminar (in Greek) has been made available on the website of the University of West Attica, although access requires an account registered with the department.

Access to the seminar recording here

The focus of the seminar

The seminar, entitled “Utilisation of Pomegranate Seed Oil: Applications in the Food Industry“, started with an introduction of the EXCEL4MED project, during which Chalmoukos outlined our objectives and scope.

The presentation delved into key topics, including:

• A literature review on PSO, detailing its composition, extraction methods, health benefits associated with its consumption, related toxicological studies, and its applications in both food and non-food sectors.
• Challenges in stabilising PSO due to its susceptibility to degradation, and methods for stabilising the oil through encapsulation techniques, such as emulsions and liposomes, highlighting the potential use of PSO in the food industry.
• Finally, Chalmoukos outlined the key work packages he will focus on during his doctoral research, presenting a structured approach that spans from the characterisation and analysis of raw oils to their stabilisation in various formulations. His research will also explore the optimisation of these formulations for incorporation into food matrices.

Outcomes and implications

The seminar succeeded in disseminating valuable knowledge about methodologies for improving the stability and bioavailability of PSO.

It provided inspiration for future commercial and industrial applications, particularly in the potential incorporation of encapsulated oils into food matrices.

Additionally, the session fostered engagement among the scientific community, promoting collaboration and awareness of EXCEL4MED’s objectives.

EXCEL4MED is a Horizon Europe-funded project dedicated to creating an Excellence Hub for Mediterranean fruit supply chains. The project works to promote resilience and sustainability through innovation, collaboration and green technologies.

Stay tuned for updates on our latest developments!