Flexible mid-infrared photonic solutions for rapid farm-to-fork sensing of food contaminants
Overview
Analytical techniques for the measurements of chemical and microbial contaminations along the food chain require detection levels in the ppb range. A direct measurement of contaminants at theses concentrations in a food matrix is not possible by any photonics principle. PHOTONFOOD aims to overcome this barrier by developing an integrated solution that combines innovations in smart paper-based sample treatment, mid-infrared (MIR) sensing and advanced data analysis.
Transforming MIR sensing from existing lab solutions into a portable solution, PHOTONFOOD develops novel infrared light sources, specifically interband cascade light emitting diode (IC-LED), and interband and quantum cascade lasers (ICL/QCL). The light sources will be combined with sophisticated waveguide technology and 3D-paper microfluidics.
The solution will be validated and demonstrated in real scenarios for fungal and water mould (oomycetes) contamination, mycotoxins in wheat, nuts, dried fruits and aquaponic-based herbs, as well as pesticides and antibiotics in aquaponic-based herbs along the entire food production value chain.
Key facts
Funding programme
Host University
Duration
Host University
Budget
Host University
Challenge
We all want our food to be free from harmful contaminations, but we often are not aware of the efforts required to ensure that. For example, a recent survey of food manufacturers in the United States and Europe revealed that 94% of the surveyed producers reported fungal spoilage in the finished product as a frequent problem. The main food spoilage fungi secrete toxic secondary metabolites, so-called mycotoxins. The European Commission pointed out that 5–10% of global crops produced are lost annually due to mycotoxin contamination and mycotoxins are also the most frequently notified food safety hazard in the European Union (EU).
In the EU, regulations and testing ensure that food contaminations, such as mycotoxins, fungi, pesticides, and antibiotics, are below critical levels. Today, detecting contaminations at the required low levels (parts per billion range) requires samples to be sent to a laboratory for testing. To avoid the high costs involved, farmers, importers, and manufacturers tend to test large batches, and sometimes only after mixing produce from different origin. If a contamination is detected, the whole batch will be destroyed, resulting in financial losses and food waste.
The food sector is therefore in urgent need for devices that would enable cost-effective testing in smaller batches throughout the food value chains.
Objectives
PHOTONFOOD aims to enable testing in smaller batches throughout the food value chain. To achieve this, the project partners will develop devices allowing accurate testing at radically reduced costs per sample. One device will be mobile, the other hand-held, both allowing testing on-site from farm to fork.
To overcome the technical challenges, PHOTONFOOD:
- Develops smart, cheap and user-friendly 3D-paper microfluidic devices to extract, separate and preconcentrate chemical and microbial contaminants for sample treatment
- Designs and produces 3D-printed cartridges iteratively to ensure alignment in the interface between the paper microfluidic strip and the optics for readout
- Realises monolithic interband/quantum cascade lasers (ICL/QCL) with the required coverage of a broad wavelength window
- Pioneers the development of low-cost powerful MIR light emitting diodes (MIR-LEDs)
- Develops specific pre-processing tools and establishing robust calibration models for MI-FI and HI-FI data covering a narrow but very discriminative spectral range
- Establishes data analysis models in a cloud service and provides them as application for a laptop and a mobile phone for the MI-FI and HI-FI instrumentation
With only little training, the food operators will be able to test their produce with the new devices. The low costs will allow for frequent testing in small batches before shipping, mixing, or selling – ultimately reducing food waste while increasing the quality of your food.
Work packages
WP1
Technology acceptance and techno-economic evaluation
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WP2
Paper microfluids
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WP3
Novel MIR light sources
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WP4
Modular sensor solution
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WP5
Data analysis and software development
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WP6
Demonstration and validation
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WP7
Communication, dissemination and exploitation
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WP8
Coordination and management
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