Alpha Tool wins NAV Impact Prize
30-06-2025
Pol Grootswagers, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Ageing at Wageningen University, has won the NAV Impact Award for his work on the Alpha Tool. This innovative tool helps chefs, dietitians, and researchers accurately calculate the protein quality of meals. The Alpha Tool was developed to address the challenges of the protein transition in hospitals, where plant-based meals are increasingly being served.
Supporting the Protein Transition in Hospitals
The protein transition within hospital settings is gaining momentum. More and more chefs are developing plant-based recipes to meet the growing demand for sustainable and vegan meals. However, these dishes often face resistance from dietitians who were traditionally taught that high-quality protein primarily comes from animal sources. While hospital patients do indeed need sufficient high-quality protein, it is a misconception that protein must be animal-based to meet these needs. With the right ingredients, plant-based meals can provide all the essential amino acids the body requires.
The Alpha Tool: Bringing Scientific Insights into Practice
The Alpha Tool provides chefs and dietitians with insight into the digestibility and amino acid composition of their ingredients, enabling them to experiment until all essential amino acids are present in a dish. This offers a practical solution to adapt and upgrade plant-based recipes so they meet the nutritional requirements of patients.
“By translating the latest scientific insights directly into practice, we’re building a bridge between chefs and dietitians and removing a key barrier in the healthy protein transition,” says Grootswagers. “In doing so, we create impact in both sustainability and health.”
A Joint Development
The Alpha Tool is the result of years of research and development. The first steps were taken in 2021 with funding from the EU AAL programme. Subsequent grants were provided by Cosun Nutrition Center and Helsefonden. In close collaboration with Inge Tetens from the University of Copenhagen and many others, the tool was further developed. The official launch of the Alpha Tool is planned soon.
