The student Yolanda Campanero is one of the six finalists thanks to her work focused on the development of a fermented milk product enriched with coffee pulp
New success story of one of the students of Universidad Europea. Yolanda Campanero, student of the Master's Degree in Microbiota and Probiotics at the European University, is one of the six finalists for the best Master's Degree Final Project (TFM) selected by CaixaBank and the University of Lleida through the AgroBank Chair 'Quality and Innovation in the agri-food sector'.
Within this framework, Campanero has been selected thanks to her outstanding Master's Thesis entitled "Study of the effect of microorganisms with probiotic and technological potential on coffee pulp and its functional capacity. Development of a fermented milk product enriched with coffee cherry", carried out at the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC). The study proposes the use of coffee pulp to enrich specific products for nutritional and functional purposes. The student will compete for a prize of 3,000 euros, awarded by the AgroBank Chair, for the best TFM for innovation, quality or food safety.
In this sense, this TFM proposes the development of a functional coffee-flavoured dairy product incorporating lactobacilli, a microbial group of great probiotic interest found in the human intestinal microbiota. Yolanda Campanero's analysis shows that combinations of coffee pulp extract with lactobacillus strains offer the possibility of developing innovative dairy products with remarkable functional characteristics and a strong antioxidant capacity. These products demonstrate their ability to maintain bacterial viability during storage at low temperatures and resist the digestion process, while exhibiting organoleptic qualities that are attractive for potential commercial use.
In line with CaixaBank's commitment to promoting female talent, AgroBank aims to recognise and promote the role of women in the agri-food sector. This is why the AgroBank Chair's award 'Science in Women: Prize for the Best Master's Degree Final Project' supports women scientists working in the fields of agriculture, livestock and food, thus promoting gender equality in the scientific field. In this sense, the awards, which this year reach their fourth edition, seek to recognise female excellence among students who have completed a master's degree in the agri-food sector, thus boosting their careers.