Food biotechnology

ENG-436 / 2 credits

Teacher: Sybesma Wilbert Feike Henricus

Language: English

Summary

The course will deliver basic knowledge on the principles of food fermentation and enzyme technology. The course will also present benefits that food biotechnology can bring in terms of Nutrition & Health and Sustainability.

Content

History of fermentation
Different types of food fermentation
Enzyme technology (Protease, Lipases, Carbohydrases)
Practical examples and benefits generated
Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics
Sustainable Protein Production (Meat and Fish replacers)
Genetically Modified Food: A curse or a blessing?

Keywords

Biotechnology, fermentation, food, enzyme, probiotics, GM Food

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Basic chemistry and biochemistry

Recommended courses

It is recommended to also follow "Chemistry of food processess" by Imre Blank. Both courses will be given in the spring semester on a 4h weekly basis.

Important concepts to start the course

Combine knowledge related to chemistry, biology and food technology. Interest to learn how basic fermentation, enzyme technology and biochemistry is applied in food manufacturing to produce safe products with added benefits.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

Describe basic principles of fermentation
Describe selected fermentation systems
Understand enzyme action and main classes of enzymes
Understand factors related to probiotic technology
Describe selected industrial food biotechnology processs
Describe selected classical fermentation pocesses
Describe how fermentation can deliver nutrition
Describe basic safety aspects of fermentation
Have a critical thought on the role of food biotechnology in today's world
Understand sustainable protein sources and technologies

Transversal skills

Manage priorities.
Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking

Teaching methods

Lecture, short exercises, group or individual presentation on specific topic (the presentation will be individually if there are few students, or in group if there are more than 20 students). The presentation will count 20% of the final note.

Expected student activities

Attend lectures. Each student will give a 15 minutes presentation during the semester. This presentation will be given alone or as a team, depending on the number of students. A potential visit to a Nestlé research facility will be decided during the semester.

Assessment methods

The presentation will count 20% of the final note. The written exam will count 80% of the final note.

Supervision

Office hours	No
Assistants	No
Forum	No
Others	Q&A during the lectures. Short exercises during the lectures.

Resources

Bibliography

Optional: Biotechnology: an Illustrated Primer

Rolf D. Schmid (author), Claudia Schmidt-Dannert (author),Ruth Hammelehle (illustrator),

Paperback (20 Apr 2016)

link is also here: https://slsp-epfl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990106355660205516&context=L&vid=41SLSP_EPF:prod&lang=fr&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=41SLSP_EPF_MyInst_and_CI&query=any,contains,Schmid%20rolf%20biotechnology&offset=0

Biotechnology: an Illustrated Primer (link is also here: https://slsp-epfl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990106355660205516&context=L&vid=41SLSP_EPF:prod&lang=fr&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=41SLSP_EPF_MyInst_and_CI&query=any,contains,Schmid%20rolf%20biotechnology&offset=0 )