INC Awards Promotion and Research into the Health Benefits of Nuts and Dried Fruits with Grants of 250,000 euros

The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) has awarded five projects totaling 250,000 euros in order to reinforce its commitment to researchers that contribute to improving the understanding of the benefits associated with the consumption of nuts and dried fruits, as well as promotion and dissemination projects.

INC has announced the recipients of the grants for research projects, with two 100,000 euro contributions for carrying out research to enhance knowledge of the health effects of nuts and dried fruits. 2015 winners were the Spanish project from Universitat Rovira i Virgili: “Effect of nut consumption on semen quality and functionality in a cohort of healthy males” and the American project from Penn State University “‘Effect of dried plums, figs, dates and raisins versus a fruit drink/punch on cardiometabolic disease risk factors”.

• Effect of nut consumption on semen quality and functionality in a cohort of healthy males (clinical study). Principal Investigator: Dr. Monica Bulló, Rovira i Virgili University, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Department, Human Nutrition Unit, Pere Virgili Health Research Institute Foundation IISPV, Reus, Spain. Co-applicants: Dr. Joan Blanco Rodríguez and Dr. Ester Anton Martorell, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
• Effect of dried plums, figs, dates, and raisins versus a fruit drink/punch on cardiometabolic disease risk factors (clinical study). PI: Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, Penn State University, PA, USA.

Moreover, INC has granted three promotion and dissemination projects 50,000 euros total. The objective of these contributions is to build consumer demand for nuts and dried fruits, as well as to provide information about the properties and qualities of nuts and dried fruits, or market research and activities focused on guaranteeing the understanding and knowledge of nuts and dried fruits. INC has awarded grants to the following projects:

• “Nuts & Diabetes Symposium and Presentation, 33rd International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition”, from the Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis and Clinical Trials Foundation.
• “Nuts for Life: nut growers social media education project” from the Australian Nut Industry Council and Nuts for Life.
• “Nuts about good health, The Mediterranean Diet and Nuts: unbeatably healthy!” from Nucis Italia.

INC opens Call for 2016

INC has launched its 2016 Annual Research Grant and Annual Grant for Promotion and Dissemination Projects. Those interested in participating in the calls for 2016 may submit proposals before February 29th, 2016. Both calls are open for public and private institutions, as well as non-profit organizations. INC 2016 grants will represent a total amount of 250,000 €.

Further information may be found here. https://www.nutfruit.org/what-we-do/health-nutrition/funding-opportunities/

Source: http://www.nutfruit.org