LSIWC joins an international research initiative for improving children’s health

The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry has joined the ambitious European research project 4Sir2 (“Building a Healthy Drink Ecosystem to Prevent Childhood Obesity”), which aims to develop an innovative functional fruit-based beverage designed to help prevent childhood obesity.

At the heart of the project lies the valorisation of grape pomace – specifically the resveratrol and polyphenols found in grape skins – which have been shown to activate sirtuins, a group of genes involved in metabolism and obesity regulation. The resulting 4Sir2 Smoothie will not only be natural and healthy but also sustainable, as the project develops environmentally friendly extraction and processing technologies throughout the entire production chain, from agriculture to the final product.

LSIWC contributes as a technology developer and sustainability assessor, drawing on its expertise in polymer technologies and life cycle assessment (LCA). The Latvian project coordinator is our Scientific Director, Dr.sc.ing. Uģis Cābulis, who will also represent the institute at the Kick-off Meeting on September 11–12, 2025, at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).

Also actively involved in the project are Dr.chem. Māris Lauberts, who will primarily work in Work Package 2 (WP2), focusing on the optimisation of drying technologies to preserve the biological activity of grapes, and Ph.D. Anda Fridrihsone, whose main responsibility lies in Work Package 7 (WP7) – assessing sustainability and environmental impact.

The 4Sir2 consortium brings together 16 partners from 9 countries – Poland, Latvia, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Moldova. It includes universities, research institutes, agricultural and grape-growing organisations, food companies, and NGOs, enabling a multidisciplinary and health-focused approach to one of today’s most pressing public health challenges.