One of the major challenges facing the public and private sectors is to provide for the aging population so that they can enjoy a good quality of life in their senior years. Not all foods are good for people as they grow old or if they suffer from certain age-related illnesses.

To address this issue, in 2009 AZTI-Tecnalia and Mugaritz joined a consortium of universities, multinational companies and technology centres to work on the Senifood project. For over four years, we studied the effects of a series of ingredients on the most common age-related illnesses and designed a range of suitable food products which could contribute to a balanced, age-appropriate diet. Obviously, they also had to taste good.

The products were put to the test in a retirement home. It was the first time Mugaritz had been involved in this kind of consortium and it was also the start of a joint line of research into health and aging with AZTI-Tecnalia. The project is still ongoing.