Project description
Smart sensors for safer, sustainable food packaging
As food consumption and distribution increases, so does the need to ensure food safety and reduce waste. Fish, meat, cheese, and other foods high in protein are especially vulnerable to spoilage by microorganisms, however, microbial activity can produce toxic compounds long before spoilage becomes visible. The ERC-funded FRESCO project addressed this challenge, expanding upon the findings of previous ERC-funded work to deliver a practical, scalable, and cost-effective solution. Researchers built a sensor directly into the packaging to monitor a product’s freshness and promote safer, healthier, and more sustainable food consumption. The packaging is made from special porous materials within a polymer matrix that changes colour when harmful by-products are present.
Objective
Enhancing food safety and reducing waste are global challenges, especially with the rise in food consumption and distribution. Food spoilage is a key component of these challenges. One of the critical indicators of food spoilage is the presence of toxic compounds formed by microbial activity in protein-rich foods such as fish, meat, and cheese.
The FRESCO project develops an innovative colorimetric sensor for detecting toxic by-products. This sensor utilizes advanced porous materials that change color when exposed to harmful levels of toxic by-products, enabling real-time monitoring in food packaging. The sensor material, combined with a polymeric-based matrix, will be integrated into flexible packaging materials, allowing continuous observation of food freshness. By tracking color changes, it will be possible to monitor food quality.
FRESCO aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting food safety and reducing waste, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by minimizing the risk of foodborne illnesses, and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by enabling more sustainable food management practices.
This project utilizes advanced porous composites and builds upon the findings of previous ERC-funded work to deliver a practical, scalable, and cost-effective solution. With its potential to improve food quality control in real-time and reduce food spoilage, FRESCO is set to advance the food packaging industry and contribute to healthier and more sustainable consumption.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering colors
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies food technology food safety
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies food technology food packaging
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8010 Graz
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.