Artificial Intelligence to predict the taste of foods

Title of the research project
VIRTUOUS - Virtual tongue to predIct the oRganoleptic profile of mediterranean IngredienTs and their effect on hUman hOmeostasis by means of an integrated compUtational multiphysicS platform
Scientific area
Machine Learning, Data Mining, Bioengineering
Abstract
VIRTUOUS project will allow researcher’s exchange programs to develop models able to predict food organoleptic profile from its chemical composition.
Description of the research project
Food molecular composition influences its organoleptic properties (appearance, color, shape, scent, taste, compactness) and consequently our perception as more or less tasty food. Moreover, this perception often helps to distinguish and choose healthy food. The organoleptic properties are the outcome of a cascade of processes in our body, starting from receptors located on our tongue through the elaboration of multiple signals arriving to our brain.
How to simulate such a complex process?
VIRTUOUS will use methods like artificial intelligence, data mining, complex models at molecular or cellular level, bioinformatics to predict the effect of a food on our sensory system, mostly concentrating on typical Mediterranean foods like wine and oil.
The project will allow knowledge and competence exchange between researchers in the academia, in research centers and partner industrial companies, contributing to empower a collaborative multidisciplinary research network, both international and intersectorial.
Impact on researcher’s career and on society
Researchers involved into the project will develop new multidisciplinary competences being exposed to different research environments both in fundamental and applied research, in academia and private sector, developing a broader viewpoint which is a benefit for their career.
The project will also help companies in the agro-food sector to functionalize foods and beverages, in precision farming and also support medical doctors in identifying diets able to act at cellular level combining tasty and healthy foods.
More generally, VIRTUOUS objective is to develop healthy and equilibrate lifestyles to improve citizen’s well-being.
Working group @Polito
Marco Agostino Deriu – Full professor (project coordinatore)
Jacek Adam Tuszynski – Full professor
Umberto Morbiducci – Full professor
Marco Cavaglià – PostDoc researcher
Lorenzo Pallante – Ph.D Student
Gloria Ciniero – Ph.D Student
Eric Zizzi – Ph.D Student
Michela Sperti - Research Trainee
Marcello Miceli – Research Trainee
Marta Malavolta - Research Trainee
List of beneficiary organizations hosting researchers
Missing Tech Sagl, Swizerland
Enginlife-Engineering Solutions, Italy
Insybio P.C., Greece
Universidad de Granada, Spain
San Sebastian, Sca , Spain
Scuola Universitaria Professionale Della Svizzera Italiana, Swizerland
Industrial Systems Institute (ISI) | Athena Research Center
The VIRTUOUS project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, Grant Agreement No. 872181
- Budget: 1.108.600 euro
- Start date: 1/12/2019
- End date: 30/11/2023