Well-being and Health Assessment Research Unit

SMART Recovery

In a post Covid market, there is a need to respond to consumer demand to buy not only nutritious products but also to seek out smart, ‘functional’ foods with additional ‘bioactivity’ that help boost immunity, promote health and well-being and/or combat inflammatory conditions.

SMART Recovery, led by Dr Amanda Lloyd, is an Aberystwyth University led Welsh government ‘Covid Recovery’ funded project that is supporting businesses in the development of innovative and ‘functional foods’ to promote recovery from the effects of the pandemic and stimulate growth through the creation of new opportunities. Additionally, there is a need both now, and in the long-term, to help Wales manage non-communicable diseases, chronic conditions and improve recovery from long-term systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g., pre-diabetes and long-covid). A major factor of this strategy will be diet, with emphasis shifting to healthier diets to increase the health benefits of foods, alongside basic nutrition.

With representatives of the Welsh Food and Drink industry, Aberystwyth University researchers and Innovation Strategy, SMART Recovery is developing a framework to assist in the development and exploitation of health enhancing Food and Drink.

Through research and development, the project is supporting the development of ‘Functional Foods’ using naturally occurring bioactives, botanicals and supplements, particularly fine-tuning sustainable traditional ingredients, processes and recipes. Advanced analytical work and human clinical trials are testing and validating these foods that may contribute to the health of individuals, alongside consumer perception trials to aid in increasing visual attraction and palatability.

The framework is contributing to the opening of niche markets into more mainstream markets and encourage growth in the Welsh Food and Drink industry.

SMART Recovery outcomes will be used to demonstrate and communicate innovation concepts to a wider group of Welsh SMEs, extending the longevity of the framework. Working with companies with a shared vision, the project will act as a national catalyst for innovation by providing a common conduit for knowledge transfer and application relating to food quality.