Projects / Programmes
Research for improvement of safe food and health
January 1, 2014
- December 31, 2018
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| 3.07.00 |
Medical sciences |
Metabolic and hormonal disorders |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B006 |
Biomedical sciences |
Agronomics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
| 3.02 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Clinical medicine |
Researchers (27)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The proposed research program represents upgrade of the P1-064 Research for improvement of safe food and health.
The general research strategy of the proposed program is to apply new basic knowledge to assure safe and healthy food in the whole food chain and provide positive impact on human and animal health. The investigations could aid the increased life quality, sustainable and economic development of Slovenia and respectability of Slovene research and economic sphere in Europe and worldwide. Involvement of researchers from agricultures science (Crop and livestock production and processing, biosystem engineering, agriculture economics and rural development), natural sciences (genetic, biochemistry, chemistry, and biology) and medicine in the research program assures interdisciplinary connections also within the research group. One of main goals of the research group is a contribution to new, basic knowledge whose application will ensure production of safe, high quality and healthy food in Slovenia, Europe and around the globe. This knowledge will contribute to the increase of quality of life, as well as health of plants, animals, humans and environment, improvement and widening of economic opportunities of Slovene science and economy. Another part of the research group' mission is reduction of laboratory testing on animals with functional cell models and contribution to animal welfare.
The research contents of proposed program are divided into complexes, which cover all viewpoints (sights) of the food safety assurance in the whole food chain: 1) food production and processing and 2) food safety and health of consumer.
Significance for science
Agenda of the present research program is to obtain new fundamental knowledge to ensure food safety throughout the food chain with positive impact on animal and human health. These will enhance the quality of life and contributed to the sustainable and economic development of Slovenia, Slovenian scientific reputation and economic sphere in Europe and the world.
I. FOOD PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
Production systems are the basic procedures which can influence on the optimization of sustainability, the use of energy and food security under climatic changes. Original research approaches, methods and originality of the data processing of the program research group will significantly contribute to the development of the science. Using data from field and laboratory experiments with the simulation model produced by the multi-criteria models we can evaluate the suitability of alternative energy crops for the production of biogas. This will present a contribution to the field of decision support systems in the use of energy crops in agriculture. With the development of new agriculture economic methods and successful application of this knowledge in agri-food chain and rural development will significantly contribute to the development of science and agricultural industries.
In the livestock production there is a gap perceived on the basic biological knowledge of domestic animals which does not follow to the accelerated growing of the other fields within livestock branch (biotechnology, animal nutrition, veterinary medicine etc.). Human driven changes and intervention into animal natural life cycle above all demands knowledge on basic biology of animal. Progression of this knowledge is crucial from applicative point of view, but beside applicative value would represents also significant contribution on the field of mammals’ biology.
Using normal cell lines in research of plant extracts supplements gives our research a higher functionality and usability of the expected results and represents a step towards greater similarity to the actual in vivo situation in the digestive tract of animals. Rapid development of accurate methods of NIR spectroscopy and neural networks will be an important scientific development in the field of meat quality.
II. FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH
Within the food safety and health research area; we will enlarge basic knowledge in the field of interaction of probiotic bacteria and pathogens, colonization and invasion of the small intestine epithelium. These findings are important for the purposes of prevention and treatment of existing and future pathogens which could be transmitted by food. For many chemical pollutants, xenobiotics and functional ingredients in food is not known their impact on cell physiology and human health, nor does their rate of absorption from food. The development of in vitro cell models and the validation of their use is an important part of reducing the use of experimental animals in research studies.
Significance for the country
Setting program priorities is an important means of facilitating the scientific and technological advances needed to meet the challenges facing Slovene (and world agriculture). The program priorities encompass several strategic goals of Slovenian agriculture:
1. Enhancing economic opportunities for agricultural producers, in order to increase the competitiveness of Slovene agriculture.
2. Improving human health and well-being through an abundant, safe, agricultural ecosystem.
3. Popularization of Slovenia in the world.
I. FOOD PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
Optimizing of agriculture production systems can contribute to greater food self-sufficiency, preserve cultivated landscape, improve the quality and safety of food and reduce the negative impacts of agricultural production on the environment. The appropriate choice of production system can also contribute to greater economic efficiency and social security of the human population. Including proper alternative crops for Slovenian agro ecological conditions could be potential for production of natural functional food and innovations in food processing.
Improving production systems will increase ability of providing safe and healthy food, as well as the contribution to the conservation of environment, and species and landscape diversity. The results will contribute to the increased interest for organic and sustainable farming. An important input to the engineering knowledge development is expected and usefulness of the results in the practice.
Slovenian agriculture is (in) directly integrated into the habitat of most of the population, so documented and traceable activity is of utmost importance for the production of safe food and to build confidence among the rural and urban populations. Finding alternative activities on the farm, that include making combined heat and electrical power can reduce the dependence of biogas crops (corn), and increases self-sufficiency (short rotation forestry).
Progression of knowledge of biological/natural background of animals, included into human food system, could represent a crucially aid in animal breeding systems rationalization (economy, environment conservation). Indeed, basic biological knowledge plays an important role in introduction of specific, to the local environment adjusted animal breeding systems. Moreover, such knowledge could indirectly stimulate conservation of Slovenian autochthon and traditional breeds.
Development of practical applications for the assessment of carcass and meat quality will be useful for all participants in the meat chain (breeders, breeding services, meat processing industry, consumers) in terms of determining the suitability of meat for further processing, for providing safe and tasty meat, for rapid and inexpensive analysis of meat quality indicators, for routine testing of genetic lines in breeding and selection programs, etc.).
II. FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH
The public has a general negative attitude to animal testing. Therefore is development of cellular models for testing toxicity and the development of new functional foods necessary for ethical reasons. Consumer has less hesitation to use such products with required standards of food safety for consumption. The development of functional foods could lead to a patent protection and it will be an opportunity for the development of Slovenian food industry.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
