Cawthron Institute and Sanford Limited have joined forces to identify and validate the health benefits of Greenshell™ mussels, in particular their potential anti-inflammatory qualities and their ability to promote improved joint and bone health.
“The aim of this research is to assist the transition of Greenshell™ mussels from the relatively low price commodity protein market to a market position where products are valued for their unique nutrition and functional properties,” said Andrew Stanley, general manager innovation, Sanford.
New Zealand’s Greenshell™ mussels attract NZ$280 million in export earnings each year. This new programme aims to assist the industry to grow that even larger by identifying and developing better Greenshell™ mussel-based food products to appeal to the emerging Chinese market.
The research programme called ‘Musseling up: high-value Greenshell™ mussel foods’ was one of seven science and business collaborations to receive NZ$1 million over three years through the Government’s High Value Nutrition (HVN) National Science Challenge.
It includes researchers from Massey University and the Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust who will be advised by an international technical advisory group of industry, food technology and clinical nutrition experts from New Zealand, China and the United Kingdom.
Mr Stanley said the programme is the first of its kind.
“There has previously been extensive research into a range of Greenshell™ mussel extracts and powders but never before has there been a coordinated collaboration focused on retaining that functional value in the food itself, which potentially could transform the aquaculture sector into a high value, large scale functional food industry," he said.
Sanford is New Zealand’s biggest producer and exporter of Greenshell™ mussels and is devoted entirely to harvesting, farming, processing, storage and marketing of them.
Cawthron is New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation and a world-leader in aquaculture research with a proven track record of turning science into commercial reality.
