LSIWC joins international Horizon Europe project to improve children’s health

The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry has joined the Horizon Europe project 4Sir2 Smoothy: Building a Healthy Drink Ecosystem to Prevent Childhood Obesity. The project aims to develop an innovative functional fruit-based beverage from grape pomace, making use of resveratrol and polyphenols that are known to activate sirtuins – genes involved in metabolism and obesity regulation.

The resulting 4Sir2 Smoothy will not only be natural and healthy but also environmentally responsible, as the consortium develops sustainable extraction and processing technologies across the entire production chain – from agriculture to the final product.

LSIWC participates as a technology developer and sustainability assessor, applying expertise in polymer technologies and life cycle assessment (LCA). The institute’s Scientific Director, Dr.sc.ing. Uģis Cābulis, represented LSIWC at the kick-off meeting on September 11–12, 2025, hosted by the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). Also actively involved are Dr.chem. Māris Lauberts, who will contribute to drying technology optimisation, and PhD Anda Fridrihsone, responsible for sustainability and environmental impact assessment.

The 4Sir2 consortium brings together 16 partners from 9 countries – including universities, research institutes, agricultural organisations, food companies, and NGOs – in a joint effort to address one of today’s most pressing public health challenges.