July 1, 2014             
 

Spain: Joint project to improve aquaculture product quality and safety
 

The Aquaculture Technology Centre, Esteros Canela SA, and the Universities of Córdoba and Pablo de Olavide are on a three-year project to improve the quality and safety of aquaculture products in Andalusia, Spain.

According to the Aquaculture Technology Centre (Ctaqua), it is expected that the results of this research form the scientific basis for the marine aquaculture industry's decision-making to "improve the quality and safety of processed products".

Project participants aim to obtain fresh, natural and minimally processed products, preserving the quality and safety of products throughout their shelf life.

To do this, the incorporation of food quality and safety management systems is necessary to provide quick and accurate responses, with the goal of ensuring that the food reaches the consumer in the best condition.

As the small businesses that form the aquaculture product processing industry have limited human and financial resources to carry out continuous innovation, the project will evaluate the combined use of traditional and alternative processes, such as modified atmospheres and bioconservation.

"This initiative could provide aquaculture industry operators with simple tools to offer rapid response, which will make it possible to grant consumers more attractive food with longer shelf life," Ctaqua said.

The parties will work on the development of mathematical models in minimally processed marine aquaculture products to extend shelf life and improve their microbiological safety.

Gonzalo Zurera is principal investigator of the initiative and professor in nutrition and food science at the University of Córdoba.

Pablo de Olavide University in Seville will be responsible for the development and implementation of molecular techniques to identify microbial species naturally present in these products and that can act as bioprotectors.

Meanwhile, the company Esteros de Canela will be in charge of sampling processes of minimally processed aquaculture products, which will be subjected to optimisation.

Ctaqua will help in the sampling surveys, in the analytical and microbiological monitoring and in the scientific advice of the work at Esteros de Canela.

The project, called "Development and implementation of predictive models for improving the quality and safety of minimally processed marine aquaculture products", has the financial support of the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Enterprise of the Andalusian autonomous government, which will provide US$157,000.