Mycospec, an EU-research project, has been launched aimed at developing an innovative tool based on infrared spectroscopic fingerprinting and novel laser technology to detect mycotoxins, toxins in food products.
The approach would enable the development of a sensitive tool, which will ensure that larger volumes of cereals and foodstuffs can be detected and quantified.
The two-year research project will develop a technology for the rapid on-site diagnosis of fungal diseases, by joining the efforts of three research centers: Universitaet ULM, Germany; Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur Wien, Austria; and IRIS, Spain.
Also the industrial small and medium enterprise (SME) partners, including ICC, Austria; Fullwell Mill, UK; MG Optical Solutions, Germany; Cerveses La Gardenia, Spain; and Setbir, Turkey, will contribute to the development and the industrial validation of the technology.
Mycotoxins and toxins are produced by fungi and they infect food crops and processed foods. Consumption of such foods could lead to acute and long-term illness.
Funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission, the project was presented at IRIS facilities in Castelldefels, Spain on 19 November 2013 with the participation of SMEs of the cereal industry and research centers.
