Biofunctionalization of corn to enhance market competitiveness within the frame of Spanish GO-BIODIF project

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la XXIII European Conference on Food Chemistry Conference (EuroFoodChem), celebrada en Bratislavia (Eslovaquia) del 11 al 13 de junio de 2025.

Maize is one of the most important crops in the European Union, both for animal and human consumption. Maize production in Europe cannot compete on price with other countries that do not have to comply with European health and environmental regulations. The solution to this situation is to identify high quality functional varieties and to apply innovative technologies that guarantee profitability and provide quality. In addition, global consumer is more concerned than ever about healthy lifestyle habits, placing greater emphasis on the nutritional value. However, evidence shows that there is a significant imbalance in the diet due to poor eating habits caused primarily by current lifestyles, giving challenges for Spanish agriculture. Nanotechnology is currently one of the most active research areas focused mainly on the development of new materials at nanometric scales, with applications in different areas of science such as agriculture. The goal is to identify interesting maize varieties with commercial potential and apply nanofertilizers protocols with functional nanoparticles to strengthen sustainable practices in agriculture and the production chain for appealing nutritional labeling for the consumers ("source of" or "high content of"). The possibility of improving the levels of micronutrients and bioactive compounds in maize through the application of nanotechnology opens up a wide range of opportunities for the primary sector, the agri-food industry, and the end consumer, ultimately having an environmental, economic and social impact focus on: 1) Promoting biodiversity with high commercial potential 2) Fostering sustainable production through the use of nanofertilizers 3) Achieving labeling and nutritional declaration of maize, which will allow their market positioning, improving agronomic characteristics, as well as their social impact in programs to combat malnutrition problems worldwide.

Project GO-BIODIF, ref. REGAGE23E00065226662, is financed by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Spain) and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Peer reviewed