In Brief

  • Challenge: Food Challenge
  • Challenge Type: SFI Challenge
  • Status: Complete

The Challenge

For older people, buying quantities of fresh food can lead to food waste which discourages them achieving nutritional and health goals. Furthermore, undernutrition (the insufficient intake of energy and nutrients to meet an individual's needs to maintain good health) in older people is a serious condition that contributes to poor quality of life, frailty and health loss. As the world’s population ages, undernutrition will become a significant global health issue if not addressed.   

The Solution

Develop a novel minimally processed food product that will combine key ingredients of the Mediterranean Diet that sustain gut microbes that promote health. This product will support optimised nutritional intake and overcome a number of current challenges in addressing undernutrition in the elderly.   

UN SDG Alignment

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

The Team

  • Team Lead: Prof. Paul O'Toole, University College Cork
  • Team Co-Lead: Dr Elke Arendt, University College Cork

Societal Impact Champion

  • Prof. Suzanne Timmons, University College Cork