Australian, Italian researchers collaborate to develop healthier pasta

Researchers at the University of Adelaide, Australia, are collaborating with a team of researchers from the Italian universities of Bari and Molise to develop better quality pasta, which will also offer health benefits.

The University of Adelaide’s ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls is initiating two projects in September 2012, which are aimed at improving the levels of healthy soluble in durum wheat, which is commonly used to make pasta. Both projects will be conducted at the University’s Waite Campus.

The first project, to be conducted in collaboration with the University of Bari, will look at how the growth of durum wheat will influence starch and fibre levels, and ways of increasing fibre levels in pasta.

The second project, to be carried out in collaboration with the University of Molise, will evaluate the roles played by two primary components of dietary fibre – arabinoxylans and beta-glucans – in determining the quality of bread dough and pasta.

Rachel Burton, chief investigator for both projects, said that the term ‘super spaghetti’ indicates that it offers a range of potential health benefits, such as lowering the risk of heart disease or colorectal cancer.

"Our research – in collaboration with our Italian colleagues – is aimed at achieving that, but we’re also looking to improve the quality of pasta as well as its health properties," Burton added.

Geoff Fincher, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls director, said the new projects will enable pasta producers in South Australia and Italy to supply the domestic markets with pasta products that are healthy.

These projects have received support and funding from the South Australian Government, local governments in Italy, the University of Adelaide and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls.

ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls focuses on understanding the plant cell wall biology to facilitate sustainable biomass production for food security, human health and energy biomass conversion.