In Situ Production and Functional Application of Bacterial Cellulose in Edible Complex Soft Matter Systems

Objective

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a nanofibrillar non-digestible and non-fermentable biopolymer with outstanding tensile strength, water retention, and biocompatibility. These properties make BC highly attractive for food applications as a fat replacer, texture modifier, emulsion stabilizer, and bioactive carrier. Current industrial production, however, depends on isolated fermentation with resource-intensive purification and reformulation steps, which raise production costs, increase environmental impact, and restrict BC’s suitability for sustainable, clean-label food products. Crucially, no existing research has demonstrated in situ BC fermentation directly within complex edible food matrices (e.g., gels, emulsions, foams) using food-grade strains and substrates—an approach that could eliminate costly purification while preserving full functionality. Traditional products such as nata de coco illustrate BC growth in coconut water but require post-fermentation handling and fail to represent structured composite food systems, leaving a clear technological gap at the intersection of microbial biotechnology, food material science, and sustainable manufacturing. The IN-BEST project aims to address this challenge through a one-step strategy where BC is directly biosynthesized within edible matrices such as gels, emulsions, and foams. This approach retains BC’s intrinsic properties while eliminating downstream purification and processing. The project will pioneer rapid, high-efficiency in situ BC biosynthesis, introduce gentle microbial inactivation methods compatible with food safety and product integrity, and characterize embedded BC as zero-calory structurant with stabilizing and texturizing functions. Ultimately, IN-BEST will deliver consumer-relevant prototypes, including plant-based dairy alternatives and fat-free spreads, while aligning with EU priorities on the Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, and Circular Economy Action Plan.