From Waste Streams to New Resources
Researcher Aratrika Ray advances enzyme-based methods for food waste valorization
In PLENTY’s Work Package 1, Aratrika Ray works at the intersection of enzyme technology and circular food systems. With a PhD in Food Engineering and Technology from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, India she brings a broad scientific background that spans a wide range of topics, including gels and aerogels, liquid rheology, and supercritical fluid systems.
Across both her previous and current work a common thread runs though her research: valorization of waste streams. Within PLENTY, she is keen to further explore fermentation and downstream processing in the future.
From fundamentals to applied sustainability to tackle the complexity of food waste
Aratrika joined PLENTY through an ongoing collaboration with Professor Francisco Vilaplana, with whom she has been working on enzymes since 2024. What drew her to the project was the opportunity to deepen her work with enzymes while directly engaging with the challenge of food waste valorization. Being part of Work Package 1 allows her to combine fundamental enzyme research with applied sustainability questions.
The main challenge Aratrika is addressing lies in the nature of food waste itself. Waste streams can vary widely in composition and are often unfamiliar, making them difficult to handle. Each new material requires careful characterization before any enzymatic or fermentation process can begin, often making the work feel like starting from scratch.
Her research process begins with detailed characterization of waste materials, focusing on their monosaccharide composition and linkage structures. This information is then used to determine which enzymes are suitable and how they can be applied to transform the waste into valuable components. Step by step, this approach helps turn complex and unknown substrates into usable resources.
A ”magic box” of methods and materials
What Aratrika finds most exciting most is the sheer diversity of waste streams she gets to explore. The wide range of methods and enzymes available feels like opening a magic box, offering constant opportunities to learn something new. She is also highly motivated by the possibility of industrial collaboration and by the prospect of seeing her results move from the lab into practical applications.
Pushing waste streams back into the food system
Looking ahead, Aratrika hopes her research will help one or two waste streams advance to becoming becoming valuable ingredients within the food system. Being able to see these materials re-enter the food chain would, for her, represent a meaningful contribution both to PLENTY’s objectives and to the development of more circular food systems.
Journalling, peer review – and fish
Beyond the lab, Aratrika enjoys journalling and she has developed a surprising skill for writing sharp and effective responses to reviewer comments on scientific papers. When it comes to food, she especially loves cooking dishes based on her traditional knowledge, with fish dishes being a particular favorite.