FOODSENSE Project 2019-2022

Foodsense - Development of an integrated system in a filling line for detecting contaminants in food products.

The main objective of the FoodSense project is to develop, build, test and validate an innovative filling line for the food industry, particularly to be applied in the production process of mayo and ice creams, which allows a fast-on-line detection of different microorganisms. This is an initiative of R&D in co-promotion that is led by AFINOMAQ, which will use the technology to be developed, in collaboration with FS – Functional Steel and WSBP Electronics companies, and with two national scientific and technologic entities – the INESC-MN and the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory.

The FoodSense project aims at developing a solution that will allow monitoring and controlling, in quasi-real time, the microbiological parameters of the product in the reactor of a filling line, where the ingredients of the final product are mixed, and later on in the other stages of the filling line.

The solution consists of 4 components that will constitute the industrial prototype denominated the FoodSense system: 1) device with biosensor for analysis of microbiological parameters, consisting of a microfluidic module for sample preparation and dynamic and/or static modules for microbiological detection; 2) a reactor tank, where the food products remain before proceeding to the 3) 4-station automatic filler; and a 4) FoodSense Interface, composed by a management system and an intuitive interface for the user, which will include an alert system for non-compliant samples.

The FoodSense project will have a significant impact on the food industry, namely with respect to monitoring and controlling food quality and safety, speed in decision making and reduction of downtime of production lines, and food safety management systems HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) implemented by the companies. This will provide a competitive added value with economic, environmental and social gains to companies that may adopt it. It will also give the AFINOMAQ company a competitive advantage, considering that by placing this innovative system on the market, it will allow it to differentiate itself from the competition, providing a new solution for both current and new customers in geographic markets such as Germany, Spain, France and the USA.

Professor José Oliveira Santos participates in this Project as the Technical Director from the Project Promoter AFINOMAQ Lda.