Current production processes do not maximise olive oil yield and, at the same time, energy use is high. However an EU-funded project introduced a new technology known as pulsed electric field (PEF) in all existing and new mill equipment that will result in higher yields and health benefits to consumers.
As much as 25% of the world’s agricultural production today becomes contaminated resulting in risks to human health and to a loss of crops. The main culprits are toxins and particularly those of the poisonous mycotoxin family, which can be a potential threat to both humans and animals.
Technological and scientific developments made it possible to double the size of cruise ships every decade since the 1970s . Today, the largest vessels can carry up to 8,500 passengers . Yet, while the expansion of ships has been racing ahead, their safety regulations have stayed virtually unchanged.
The UN Security Council has expressed concerns that the adverse effects of climate change could lead to threats to international peace and security. In order to improve understanding of the factors involved, the European Union (EU)-funded CLICO project studied the world's most exposed and vulnerable areas to both floods and droughts - the Mediterranean, Middle East and Sahel (MMES) regions.
There is no doubt that climate change is happening worldwide as ice caps shrink, sea and river levels rise. Coastal flooding damages not only buildings and engineering structures, but also the environment and the ecological balance in Europe.
It is a quiet, modest process which rarely grabs the headlines, but the pollination of plants, trees and crops is a function which is vital both for human wellbeing and for the environment. While some pollination occurs as a result of the wind, the vast majority - especially that which matters most to humans - is carried out by insects.
Fire-resistant protection is essential for structures made of light steel, such as industrial buildings, warehouses, houses, garages and containers. The standard solution is intumescent paint, which swells up when heated to form a protective layer for the metal.
The SteelProst project has used nanotechnology to develop a second-generation intumescent paint with enhanced fire resistance and mechanical properties, thus providing substantial advantages over existing coatings.
Do you live near an airport or fly regularly? Even if you don't, new research that promises to lead to improved aircraft aerodynamics will benefit us all. It will ultimately enable planes to be built that are less noisy, use less fuel and pollute less – a win-win situation for society, the environment and the aviation industry.
The market for bio-products or bio-based goods has grown sharply over the past few years as consumers embrace foods, fuels, medicines and other products made from renewable biological resources. However, the emerging appetite for bio-products is being held back by bottlenecks in manufacturing, with many processing methods taking far too long and costing too much.
A European research project is helping pinpoint the industrial jams, raising hopes that the supply of bio-products can match the soaring demand.
EU-funded researchers are seeking to determine how stem cells derived from adult fat tissue can activate the regeneration of cartilage. If successful, their work could lead to effective new treatments for millions of osteoarthritis sufferers.
One third of Europe’s land area - more than 2 million km2 - is covered by forests, which support the timber industry. However, growing fluctuations in temperature and rainfall due to climate change may have a severe economic impact on timber production.
This conclusion emerged from the European Union (EU)-funded MOTIVE project which set out to improve forest management and policymaking in the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions.
In the past, the best-known medical use of gold in the human body was probably limited to dental repairs, and even then considered by some to be a little ostentatious! But now, with the support of the EU, a multi-award-winning research project is demonstrating that gold can have unforeseen benefits in cancer treatment.
With visions of zero carbon emissions and superior performance, partners in the largest ever endeavour to modernise ship engines first put their heads together in 2004.
Nine years later, the core team in this EU-funded project has honed in on the concepts with genuine promise – from more robust materials to innovative fuel injection systems. Some of the team’s findings can already be found in new ship engines.
The benefits of producing biofuel from perennial grasses make them a very attractive alternative source of energy. An EU-funded project is working to create improved varieties and identify the optimal environments for production of different grass species to make perennial grasses even more sought after.
The European research project, Durawood, has developed a special pre-treatment system using plasma, whereby electric discharges are applied near the wood changing its surface properties. The plasma pre-treatment extends coating durability and may improve fungicide efficiency to protect the wood.
What impact did the introduction of milk to our diets have on our early society? By examining Neolithic artefacts and bones, an EU-funded project has contributed to our understanding of how Europeans began to abandon their hunter-gathering lifestyle in favour of farming.
As part of its work, the LeCHe research network found milk residues trapped in mud-made cheese-strainers dating from around 7 000 years ago. The pottery, hidden in archaeological sites in Poland, hosts the earliest prehistoric evidence for cheese-making.
A new method for dealing with soil pollution has been developed which promises better environmental protection, reduced remediation costs and other economic benefits such as enhancing tourism prospects. Developed through the EU’s FP7 programme, the SORBENT project will also contribute to national and EU environmental policy objectives.
Harmful bacteria can be removed from water sources through the addition of copper and silver ions. The SILCO project has developed an innovative monitoring device that senses the elimination process of complex bacterial communities known as biofilm and unsafe bacteria from drinking water systems.
Every now and then scientists discover something out of this world – like a primitive strain of bacteria that lives in an extreme environment – not knowing that one day the proteins in this organism could revolutionise biotechnology, reveal the secret to life on other planets, or simply change our sunbathing habits. EU-funded researchers are exploring the potential of the unspoilt lagoons of the Andes.
Creative industries, which are often concentrated in highly innovative regional clusters, have real potential to become catalysts for sustainable growth. By identifying possible areas of co-operation between the creative and ICT sectors, an EU-funded project has sought to encourage and develop such potential.
