European Biocop project linked to North America
Jan 25, 2006
The European Community Biocop project, launched in October 2005, lets instrument makers gain access to the resources universities and other research institutes have at their disposal, says one of the project's management leaders, Mark Pullinger. It is designed to develop better monitors for multiple chemical contaminants, including pesticides, toxins and drugs, in a variety of foodstuffs. Food processors will access better instruments to meet the fresh demands from consumers and regulators for increased food safety and quality. Currently most monitors are useful only for particular contaminants and few are low cost let alone disposable.
The project will study novel techniques aimed at the DNA 'finger printing' foodstuffs to discover if they contain any chemical contaminants. The project will be led by a team in Belfast who will link up with 32 other partners from research centres, regulatory agencies and industry in 15 European countries, as well as Canada.
It will supply regulators, consumers and industry with long-term solutions to the complex problems associated with chemical contaminant monitoring. Small food producers do not have the resources to monitor for a wide range of contaminantsWe are looking to develop cheap, portable sensors that can be used in the field or on plant sites.
A team in the new EC Biocop project is developing a sensor to detect heavy metal pollution in cereals. The team will develop the sensor for use at the input end of the production chain and also on the finished product. A cereal maker would be able to put a cornflake sample, for example, put it into a solution and get a reading on whether it contains dangerous levels of heavy metals. Currently companies without in-plant labs have to send the samples away for testing, losing time and incurring costs.
Food Traceability 2006 conference will be held on February 1-2 2006 in Dallas, USA. This hot topic is driven by health scares, bioterrorism and new laws. It will become the largest RFID application but we cover DNA and many other vital technologies as well. For further details please visit www.trackingfood.com 
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