Mathematics, microbiology and food security

The 13th congress on food microbiology, held in Bilbao, Spain last week, amassed 400 congress members together to discuss the issue of food security. The organisers write that a variety of different conclusions were drawn from the many discussions held.

With regards to rapid detection methods, a new patent of a non-destructive method that uses ultrasound technology was presented. The patent is still a prototype, but soon it will be applied in the dairy industry.

Methods for rapid detection of micro-organisms, in order to avoid their growing phase, were also presented. Biosensors, useful measuring tools for the food industry because they can quickly and easily detect pathogens or alterants, were also discussed. Congress members emphasised the importance of molecular biology in the detection of pathogen micro-organisms of sanitary interest.

The organisers report that one of the key innovations at the congress was the round table on viruses that are present in water and food. As viruses are less known than bacteria, researchers are dedicating time to find out more, not only because they are pathogens, but also because they can behave as indicators. Virus based detection methods (bacteriophage) may serve to report about the state of water or matter.

Across the world, food security issues are gaining ground on a seemingly daily basis. Scientists at the congress claimed that more resources must be directed towards food security-related subjects in Europe, as well as at international level. They will be happy with the news that the US Food and Drug Administration announced just this week that it has allocated more money to research on food safety issues. But surely happier still once the European Union performs likewise.

Scientists at the congress underlined the use of computer-aided prediction methods in the area of food safety and applying mathematics to microbiology. Such methods, say the scientists, can be used to predict the behaviour of micro-organisms in complex environments such as food. Although the methods still have their limits, the scientists maintain that they offer massive potential to guarantee food security in the near future.