Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PHOTONFOOD (FLEXIBLE MID-INFRARED PHOTONIC SOLUTIONS FOR RAPID FARM-TO-FORK SENSING OF FOOD CONTAMINANTS)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2023-06-30
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 these 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. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy has proven to be the most reliable and broadly applicable spectroscopic method for detection, characterization and quantification of chemical and microbial contamination. To transform MIR sensing from existing lab solutions into a portable solution to broad usage in the food chain, PHOTONFOOD aims to develop novel infrared light sources, specifically interband cascade light emitting diode (IC-LED), and interband and quantum cascade lasers (ICL/QCL). The light sources are combined with sophisticated waveguide technology and 3D-paper microfluidics. The project develops a solution consisting of:
(1) A mid-fidelity (MI-FI) device with an envisioned low-price range that can be used for daily monitoring,
(2) a medium-price range high-fidelity (HI-FI) device for reference analysis and accreditation.
The solution will be validated and demonstrated in real scenarios for mycotoxins in wheat, nuts, dried fruits and aquaponic-based herbs, as well as for fungal and water mould (oomycetes) contamination in aquaponics. Fungi are among the most resilient spoilage microorganisms and can be missed by the most advanced control safety measures utilized in food industry. Fungi are rapidly dispersed by water and air, can survive under extremely demanding conditions such as thermal, detergent- and preservatives-based processing regimes used in modern farm-to-fork production. Approximately 25% of the global food supply is wasted or lost because of postharvest fungal spoilage including mycotoxin contamination. The developed PHOTONFOOD photonic solutions are broadly adaptable for usage along the entire food production value chain, from the farmer and distributor to the importer, and up to the retail and consumer level and will allow to detect contamination sources at an early stage.
(1) A mid-fidelity (MI-FI) device with an envisioned low-price range that can be used for daily monitoring,
(2) a medium-price range high-fidelity (HI-FI) device for reference analysis and accreditation.
The solution will be validated and demonstrated in real scenarios for mycotoxins in wheat, nuts, dried fruits and aquaponic-based herbs, as well as for fungal and water mould (oomycetes) contamination in aquaponics. Fungi are among the most resilient spoilage microorganisms and can be missed by the most advanced control safety measures utilized in food industry. Fungi are rapidly dispersed by water and air, can survive under extremely demanding conditions such as thermal, detergent- and preservatives-based processing regimes used in modern farm-to-fork production. Approximately 25% of the global food supply is wasted or lost because of postharvest fungal spoilage including mycotoxin contamination. The developed PHOTONFOOD photonic solutions are broadly adaptable for usage along the entire food production value chain, from the farmer and distributor to the importer, and up to the retail and consumer level and will allow to detect contamination sources at an early stage.
During the first 30 months of the project, the following results were achieved:
• A prototype for the paper-based microfluidics is developed and continuously improving within the project. A 3D printed low-cost sample preparation device (grinder) for hard commodities, such as grains and cereals, was developed with an extraction chamber and stopper. The developed Paper-Enhanced InfraRed Spectroscopy (PEIRS) has achieved enhancement of a factor 80, and can measure DON in the relevant range of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals following the limits set by the EU.
• A first set of three IC-LED devices at a peak wavelength of 3.4 µm was prepared at the beginning of the project to prepare a modular platform. A first generation of 6-micron IC-LEDs was fabricated, characterized and mounted. The lates generation of IC-LEDs were integrated into the MI-FI sensor system.
• Eight target wavelengths were determined for measuring with the HI-FI device.
• For the development of the HI-FI device, first prototypes of thin-film NCD waveguide chips have been prepared and have successfully been coupled with radiation from tunable quantum cascade lasers through the device in order to check the performance of the waveguide.
• First activities around pre-processing of the short wavelength regions as to be obtained by the LEDs to be developed by the project (3100-2800 and 1800-1500 cm-1) has started.
• MI-FI sampling compartment for the analysis of liquid samples was manufactured. The dimensions of the HI-FI setup were reduced by 19 cm, and first successful tests with the integrated laser from nanoplus were performed to analyze 15-Ac-DON in ethanol and on microfluidic paper.
• The data was collected by FTIR instruments and by MI-FI and HI-FI devices and the best pre-processing and modelling methods for these data were selected. The approaches to pre-processing and modelling will be reconsidered with the devices changes.
• A data management plan has been developed including a strategy for storage and sharing of data.
• A detailed sampling plan for the whole project period has been finalized.
• A preliminary comparability study evaluating the analytical performance to analyse different samples regarding their mycotoxin contamination has been performed.
• Around 300 wheat samples with a contamination level above and below the EC-Limit for DON were obtained for the project and some of this samples have been already used for tests for grinder and measurements by photonic devices.
• A study of the contamination issues of aquaponics production has been performed. A microbial source tracing protocol has been established by using a library-dependent and a library-independent approaches. The aim is to obtain a clear picture of contamination problems in the new production form of aquaponics.
• A stakeholder requirements survey has been performed in 5 countries targeting in average 15 organisations per country and including all levels of the food chain, where the most targeted end-user groups for the MI-FI and HI-FI devises were identified and a clear need for a novel rapid method for mycotoxin screening was manifested.
• The stakeholder requirements survey clearly showed that the design of the devises depends on the end-users groups.
• A first version of the quality handbook is available, which will be continuously adapted and regularly updated in the course of the project.
• All project committees and the management structure are put in place.
• The Communication and Dissemination Plan (CDP) was developed. The project is participating in relevant events and disseminating the project. A visual identity of the project and the communication channels for project dissemination have been established.
• The website for PHOTONOFOOD project has been launched (https://www.photonfood.eu).
• PHOTONFOOD has co-initiated and joined the cluster event ECREAM (European Cluster of Research projects for Environmental and Agri-food Monitoring), where common activities are planned. The website for ECREAM cluster has been launched (https://ecream.eu/).
• A prototype for the paper-based microfluidics is developed and continuously improving within the project. A 3D printed low-cost sample preparation device (grinder) for hard commodities, such as grains and cereals, was developed with an extraction chamber and stopper. The developed Paper-Enhanced InfraRed Spectroscopy (PEIRS) has achieved enhancement of a factor 80, and can measure DON in the relevant range of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals following the limits set by the EU.
• A first set of three IC-LED devices at a peak wavelength of 3.4 µm was prepared at the beginning of the project to prepare a modular platform. A first generation of 6-micron IC-LEDs was fabricated, characterized and mounted. The lates generation of IC-LEDs were integrated into the MI-FI sensor system.
• Eight target wavelengths were determined for measuring with the HI-FI device.
• For the development of the HI-FI device, first prototypes of thin-film NCD waveguide chips have been prepared and have successfully been coupled with radiation from tunable quantum cascade lasers through the device in order to check the performance of the waveguide.
• First activities around pre-processing of the short wavelength regions as to be obtained by the LEDs to be developed by the project (3100-2800 and 1800-1500 cm-1) has started.
• MI-FI sampling compartment for the analysis of liquid samples was manufactured. The dimensions of the HI-FI setup were reduced by 19 cm, and first successful tests with the integrated laser from nanoplus were performed to analyze 15-Ac-DON in ethanol and on microfluidic paper.
• The data was collected by FTIR instruments and by MI-FI and HI-FI devices and the best pre-processing and modelling methods for these data were selected. The approaches to pre-processing and modelling will be reconsidered with the devices changes.
• A data management plan has been developed including a strategy for storage and sharing of data.
• A detailed sampling plan for the whole project period has been finalized.
• A preliminary comparability study evaluating the analytical performance to analyse different samples regarding their mycotoxin contamination has been performed.
• Around 300 wheat samples with a contamination level above and below the EC-Limit for DON were obtained for the project and some of this samples have been already used for tests for grinder and measurements by photonic devices.
• A study of the contamination issues of aquaponics production has been performed. A microbial source tracing protocol has been established by using a library-dependent and a library-independent approaches. The aim is to obtain a clear picture of contamination problems in the new production form of aquaponics.
• A stakeholder requirements survey has been performed in 5 countries targeting in average 15 organisations per country and including all levels of the food chain, where the most targeted end-user groups for the MI-FI and HI-FI devises were identified and a clear need for a novel rapid method for mycotoxin screening was manifested.
• The stakeholder requirements survey clearly showed that the design of the devises depends on the end-users groups.
• A first version of the quality handbook is available, which will be continuously adapted and regularly updated in the course of the project.
• All project committees and the management structure are put in place.
• The Communication and Dissemination Plan (CDP) was developed. The project is participating in relevant events and disseminating the project. A visual identity of the project and the communication channels for project dissemination have been established.
• The website for PHOTONOFOOD project has been launched (https://www.photonfood.eu).
• PHOTONFOOD has co-initiated and joined the cluster event ECREAM (European Cluster of Research projects for Environmental and Agri-food Monitoring), where common activities are planned. The website for ECREAM cluster has been launched (https://ecream.eu/).
PHOTONFOOD will deliver smart, cheap and user-friendly paper microfluidic devices to extract, separate and preconcentrate chemical and microbial contaminants prior to spectroscopic analysis. The preconcentration and separation of contaminants will for the first time allow infrared spectroscopy detection of contaminants in the ppm level. For monitoring of the contaminants along the whole food production line, PHOTONFOOD develops handheld and portable infrared devices based on novel light sources in the infrared developed in the project. Novel data processing tools targeted to the new instrumentation will be provided. Early detection of contaminants will provide safer food and reduce food waste.