BAKED in Science

From functional ingredients and plant-based innovations to bold global flavors, today's consumers are hungry for products that tell a story and fit their lifestyle. Savvy bakers who keep a finger on the pulse of the newest bakery trends (https://bakerpedia.com/top-trends-to-look-for-in-2026/) can pivot quickly, surprise their customers, and turn everyday baked goods into must-have indulgences.

In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by master baker Richard Charpentier to discuss continued and upcoming trends for the year ahead. Richard Charpentier has over 35 years of extensive bakery experience in snacks and breads. Classically trained as a French baker and Certified Master Baker, he has gone on to include bakery science, grain milling and food history in his repertoire. He is currently the CEO of Baking Innovation (https://baking-innovation.com), finding practical uses for emerging innovations and technologies.

Top Trends in Baking

While discuss trends for the coming year, some topics covered include:
High-protein baking
Gut health
Artisan baking
Plant-based formulations
Sugar reduction
Clean-label baking
Sustainability
Innovating with texture
Gluten-free
Artificial intelligence in the bakery

Gluten-free formulations come with their share of difficulties and troubleshooting. When developing gluten-free products, it’s vital to keep in mind that the lack of gluten causes structural problems in gas retention. Gluten-free baking (https://bakerpedia.com/processes/gluten-free/) requires knowledge of bakery science alongside a blend of the right ingredients for optimal texture and shelf life.

In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by Dr. Dilek Uzunalioglu, R&D consultant and founder of Agora Food Solutions (https://agorafoodsolutions.my.canva.site/agora), specializing in food and ingredient innovation, research, development, and commercialization. With 25+ years of experience across academia and industry, she has led global food R&D programs, managed technical teams, and driven innovation for multinational corporations and startups such as Ingredion and Motif FoodWorks.

The Science of Gluten-Free Baking

Some topics covered include:
Ingredient functions in food systems
Food science vs food engineering
Opportunities to improve the nutrition of gluten-free goods
Considerations for Celiac disease and gluten allergies
Formulating to re-create the gluten structure
Enzymes for improved texture and shelf life

Wheat flour is the backbone of most baked goods, making up over half of a bread recipe and about a quarter of a cake. That’s why keeping an eye on your flour quality (https://bakerpedia.com/processes/flour-quality/) is crucial for optimal product development. The key is picking a flour that works well with your application and process in order to get the texture, flavor, and consistency you’re aiming for, each and every single time.

In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by Dimitrios Argyriou, Managing Director at Grainair. Grainar (https://grainar.com) offers innovative solutions that help bakers improve the quality of their products. With a solid scientific background and more than 80 years of experience, they constantly explore the latest developments in biotechnology, cereal science, and industrial analytics.

Talk About Flour Power

Some topics covered include:
The intricacies of flour milling
Getting the most out of R&D
Balancing experience and objective data
Baking as a multifactorial process
The importance of sharing knowledge

An estimated one-quarter to one-third of all food produced for human consumption worldwide is lost or wasted. As global food demand continues to rise, the challenge lies in producing more while creating less food waste (https://bakerpedia.com/baked-wasted-food-waste-commercial-baking/). In the baking industry, embracing efficient production practices, ingredient optimization, and upcycling strategies can significantly minimize waste, enhance nutritional retention, and build a more resilient, sustainable food system.

In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by Marta Benedet, Key Account Manager at Agrain. Agrain (https://agrainproducts.com) is a food-tech company based in Denmark, specializing in the upcycling of spent grain. The company processes spent grain into aromatic and versatile flour ingredients, perfectly fit for a wide range of food products.

Waste Less, Enjoy More

While discussing repurposed grains, some topics covered include:
Expanded ingredients range at Agrain
Giving new life to spent brewer’s grains
Nutritional properties of repurposed grains
Improved texture in baked products
Considerations for flavor profiles
Upcycled ingredients for a smaller carbon footprint

Bread is more than just a staple food. It’s the cornerstone of countless meals around the world!
It’s a food that humans have been enjoying for millennia, with the earliest evidence of bread (https://bakerpedia.com/processes/bread/) dating back around 30,000 years ago. Today, it remains an immensely popular food item and a hugely important market segment for modern bakers.

In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by Aleksandra Bednarek. Aleksandra is Poland’s first certified bread sommelier (https://breadsommelier.com), who runs a bakery in California called Aleksandra’s Bakery, using her expertise in flour quality and fermentation to produce outstanding bread products.

Baking Up A Passion For Bread

Some topics covered include:
How bread differs between Europe and North America
Freshly milled flour quality
The bread sommelier program
Educating consumers and artisanal bakers
Encouraging younger generations to become bakers
Translating Trevor J. Wilson’s Open Crumb Mastery to Polish

This podcast is brought to you by:

Brabender

This episode is brought to you by Brabender, A Brand of Anton Paar. Since 1923, Brabender has been a leading manufacturer of instruments for testing material quality and physical characteristics in all fields of research and development and production in the baking industry worldwide. Brabender is now operating as Anton Paar. To learn more, visit www.anton-paar.com