Techniques developed for this relate to classical chemistry, NIR spectroscopy, DNA based and microbiological technologies. Knowledge in NIR spectroscopy started in the 1980s. Since then, lots of data bases were built for the calibration of NIR instruments and worldwide networks of instruments were organized to characterize agricultural products in a uniform way. The impressive work of the Food and Feed Quality Unit drives her to international recognition.   The second unit of the Department involved in the project is the Authentication and Traceability Unit.  By its activities in molecular biology, the Unit is specialized in GMO detection (and is one of the laboratory constituting the national reference laboratory in Belgium) but also in animal species determination and work in close collaboration with the European Reference laboratory for Animal Protein (EURL-AP) team (a part of the team being hosted in the Unit Traceability and Authentication).  The Unit therefore has an excellent knowledge of the performance criteria required for the validation of a test at international level and of different regulations.  This Unit has also an expertise in dairy microbiology for technological (i.e. dairy fermentation, microfiltration process for milk sanitization, etc.) and regulatory purposes (i.e. draft dossier in analytical domain of feed probiotics evaluation for EU commission). The laboratory is familiar with classical and more modern technologies (DNA based) as well as with rapid methods (flow cytometry) for bacteria identification and enumeration.

Role in the project: CRA-W is involved in the WP6 and, in collaboration with EAF, will evaluate the quality and safety of insect-based products.