What if chickpeas could help us eat better and reduce our environmental impact? That’s exactly what researchers at IBA Bucharest are exploring as part of the Sustain-a-bite project – an EU-funded initiative focused on sustainable food innovation.

Who is IBA and What Are They Working On?

The National Institute of Research and Development for Food Bioresources (IBA Bucharest) is bringing its expertise in food safety, biotechnology, and consumer behaviour to the project. Their work contributes to two key areas:

• Innovative food processing (Work Package 1)

• Consumer studies (Work Package 4)

In particular, IBA is leading efforts to create new, minimal processing methods for ingredients like chickpeas and apple pomace – a fibre-rich by-product of juice production.

Power Proteins: The Hidden Potential of Pulses

Pulses such as lentils, beans, and chickpeas are nutritional powerhouses. They’re naturally high in protein and contain a wide range of essential amino acids – making them a smart, plant-based alternative to animal products.

What’s more, they’re climate-friendly. Compared to meat, pulses require far fewer resources to grow and produce, helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions and preserve water.

Gentle Processing with Big Impact

At IBA, researchers are testing how ultrasound technology – a gentle, non-invasive technique – can improve chickpea processing. Three methods are currently under evaluation:

• S1: No ultrasound

• S2: 15-minute ultrasound treatment

• S3: 45-minute ultrasound treatment

The goal is to see how these treatments affect things like texture, taste, nutritional value, and shelf life – without relying on chemical preservatives or energy-intensive methods.

And What Do Consumers Think?

Of course, innovation is only part of the equation – consumer acceptance matters too. That’s why IBA is also leading studies to understand how people feel about new plant-based products and whether they would buy and trust these foods.

Why It Matters

If successful, these innovations could lead to healthier, more sustainable food products on supermarket shelves – starting with chickpeas and apple-based goods, and expanding to other ingredients in future.

By combining smart technology and consumer insight, IBA is helping shape the future of food – one pulse at a time.