- Food functional uses of starches and non-starch polysaccharides (through structure-function studies leading to novel applications, and through chemical or structural modification),
- Carbohydrates and health [structure-function relationships relating to starch digestion characteristics (glycemic response), fiber functionality and colonic benefit, and physiological response through clinical/nutritional group collaborations],
- Non-food uses (such as for biopolymer substitution, animal feed nutrition, and biofuels),
- Carbohydrate structural analysis.
The Center provides unique, essential, industrially relevant research, analytical services, and educational programs.
The Center provides leadership to carbohydrate-producing and carbohydrate-utilizing industries through 1) design and delivery of solutions to problems, 2) extension of fundamental knowledge on carbohydrate structure-function relationships, including application to human health, targeted for new technology development, and 3) education through short courses and conferences, free to participating companies, which stresses the application of knowledge of fundamental properties and behaviors to the solution of practical problems.