A world-leading scientist on the College of Guelph whose discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of meals has been awarded one of many province’s highest honours.
Dr. Alejandro Marangoni, professor within the Division of Meals Science, Ontario Agricultural Faculty and Tier I Canada Analysis Chair in Meals, Well being and Getting old has been named to the Order of Ontario.
“Dr. Marangoni’s merited appointment to the Order of Ontario is an distinctive recognition that speaks to the deep influence of his work,” says Dr. Shayan Sharif, interim vice-president, analysis and innovation. “His analysis discoveries and sustainable, health-focused improvements in meals manufacturing have helped enhance lives on a worldwide scale, supporting the well being of individuals and our planet.”
A trailblazer in his area, Marangoni’s analysis sparked a motion that modified the best way we have a look at sure meals by inspecting their microstructure and discovering an underlying community of fats crystals – an strategy that fashioned the groundwork for a lot of improvements.
“It is about understanding what the elements in meals are doing individually, their chemistry and physics,” says Marangoni. “Then you’ll be able to perceive easy methods to put them again collectively to create sure functionalities, just like the spreadability of butter or snap of a chocolate.”
Marangoni’s analysis paves manner for international innovation
His early work on the construction of fat and oils led to dietary breakthroughs. Marangoni discovered methods to scale back unhealthy saturated and trans-fats in meals by changing them with totally different compounds that preserve texture and performance. He additionally found a technique to rework liquid vegetable oils into stable fat permitting meals producers to discover more healthy, extra sustainable options to palm oil and a easier option to mood chocolate, giving it that shiny look and excellent “snap” with out the time-consuming strategy of repeated heating and cooling.
This supplies science strategy to meals manufacturing has turn into broadly adopted in lots of fields world wide. These days, Marangoni’s focus is on sustainability and the event of plant-based meals merchandise. His lab is working with Canadian firm Daiya Meals to create extra nutritious and purposeful plant-based cheeses.
“We developed a plant-based cheese different that melts and stretches with a protein content material of 18 per cent, which is way greater than others,” says Marangoni. “Generally well being is within the background of those discussions, however we at all times deliver it ahead since you want greater than a cool, indulgent, sustainable product if folks can be consuming it typically. It needs to be nutritious as nicely.”
Initially from Ecuador, Marangoni got here to Canada within the Eighties to review agricultural chemistry and physics. In 1991, he joined U of G as a college member after finishing his PhD in meals science with former professor Dr. David Stanley.
When requested what evokes him to review meals science, Marangoni harks again to his earlier days as a budding chemist with a want to assist folks, together with these again in Ecuador. “I needed all the pieces I do to have an software, one thing with an influence,” he says. “Meals chemistry made sense to me as a result of all people has to eat. Even the poorest international locations have a meals trade. There are functions in all places.”
Marangoni is one in all 29 new appointees to the Order of Ontario, an honour reserved for distinctive people from all walks of life who’ve made an enduring influence within the province, nation and the world.
Marangoni was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2022.
