The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) announced a scientific research paper competition for students at the beginning of the year within the framework of the LIFE integrated project “Waste as Resources in Latvia” (LIFE Waste to Resources IP), with the aim of promoting understanding of food and biological waste prevention and management issues in Latvia. The competition task for students is to develop scientific research papers on topics related to the prevention or management of food and biological waste.
In this article series, we introduce the authors of the best works and their research. The third prize in the competition was awarded to Daniela Dreslere, a 4th-year student in the Food Quality and Innovation study program at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.
She says about herself: “My name is Daniela Dreslere, I come from the Tukums region, Vāne parish. Currently, I am studying in the 4th year of the Food Quality and Innovation program at the Institute of Food, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology, at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. This field of study was chosen after graduating from the Kandava Agricultural Technical School. Since I graduated with a specialization in Catering Services, I wanted to continue improving myself in this area. I chose the 'Food Quality and Innovation' program because it is important to me what food ends up on our table, and I am also drawn to innovations in the food industry.”
Daniela chose the research topic on the potential of cod skin for collagen extraction because, during her internship at a fish processing company, she observed that a significant amount of fish processing by-products (waste) were being produced. Since producers need to think about possible effective waste reduction, it was decided to use fish skin for collagen extraction. The idea of obtaining collagen from fish skins was developed together with Associate Professor Ilze Grāmatiņa. This was Daniela's first time conducting such a study, but it should be noted that waste reduction is globally important, and this topic should be further explored.
Daniela believes that the research topic is relevant, as the use of fish collagen is increasing worldwide. This increase is related to the fact that fish collagen can be used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, and it is also better assimilated by the human body. She emphasizes that the use of land animals for collagen extraction is decreasing. Furthermore, she thinks that the added value of the research lies in its focus on waste reduction, and it can be practically applied both in Latvia and globally. Further scientific research will be conducted on the potential applications of collagen.
Daniela's life motto is: "The more you do, the more you can accomplish!"
D. Dreslere's scientific research paper "The Potential of Cod Skins for Collagen Extraction" is available here.
