Bakery ingredients firm Macphie of Glenbervie has been given funding for a research project to look at the use of sound waves in cooking.

The Scottish firm is said to have been awarded £500k, from a government funding pot of £7m, to lead a project with several other firms, looking at employing ultrasound in bakery to produce healthier products.

Partnering Macphie in the project will be Mono Bakery Equipment, Fosters Bakery, Piezo Composite Transducers and Heriot-Watt University.

The funding will come from the Technology Strategy Board, with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, Defra and Scottish Enterprise.

The funds have been split between more than 50 research projects and studies, aimed at developing healthier, safer and more nutritious food.

These projects include: formulation technologies to enable the reduction of fat and salt in food products, and the identification and development of functional foods that improve heart health.

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body, which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. It is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.