Blå Mat's Young Researchers: Rufa Mendez

Rufa Mendez is a postdoctoral researcher at Chalmers University of Technology. She is investigating how species such as herring, oysters, and algae can be transformed into high-quality, sensorially appealing, and nutrient-rich food products through innovative processing methods, such as marine ingredient hybridization, while taking into account the availability and bioavailability of key micronutrients.

In this project, Rufa is investigating the biochemical and physical properties of these raw materials to understand how they can be used to create future-oriented foods. A central part of the research is the development of algae-herring hybrid products, in which the oxidative stability and functionality of herring mince are maintained or improved using, for example, antioxidants and polysaccharides from algae.

Unlocking the potential of blue hybrids and marine food micronutrients