Since it was founded, the Research & Development laboratory has specialised in the field of Bakery Science thanks to continued investment. The researchers at Lesaffre have the technical means to rapidly identify which yeast and bacteria offer the best performance capabilities, be it in direct fermentation, or in the sponge, or sourdough methods. This type of screening makes it possible to select those candidates with the strongest potential when it comes to specifically sought-after properties, such as fermentation rate (also known as kinetics), aromatic profile or the power to resist osmotic pressure in salts and acids. Furthermore, the physico-chemical analysis tools currently available are used to seek out and identify which of the metabolites that can be obtained from the fermentation of sourdough have the best functional or organoleptic properties.
The behaviours of enzymes, emulsifiers and hydrocolloids that might be used to formulate improvers are also brought under scrutiny with a view to obtaining the desired results in baking while keeping quantities strictly to a minimum. The Baking Center™ facilities work in close collaboration with the research laboratory to ensure that the solutions provided by R&D perfectly meet the desires and constraints of bakers. Science and baking, therefore, meet on a daily basis!
The R&D laboratories belonging to the Lesaffre group are available to help bakers establish a good diagnosis. By analysing flour using advanced technologies (infrared analyser, Kjedhal method, ash oven, alveograph, farinograph and Glutomatic), it is possible to provide tailored solutions either by using certain fermentation methods or by formulating functional ingredients.
Product development relies on the work of the sensory analysis panels, as well as complementary techniques:
Cutting-edge R&D in the field of biotechnologies with a division
dedicated to Bakery Science
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