About IIM

The Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) is one of the main marine research centers in the Iberian Peninsula. Looking at the Atlantic from Vigo, a city with a strong connection with the sea, the IIM-CSIC faces the challenge of increasing our knowledge about the ocean, from its physical characteristics to the food we take from it and the processes that bind the whole system together.

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Research

Research is at the core of the Institute of Marine Research's work. Working along 3 Core Research Themes, which intertwine and connect to each other, the researchers and technicians at the IIM-CSIC look for answers within 9 different research lines.

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Innovation

While our research provides us with new knowledge about our sea and shores, at the Institute of Marine Research we are committed to go a step further, creating new collaborations with the industry and other economic activities, be they already 'established' industries, such as fisheries or aquaculture, or 'emerging' ones, such as ocean observation.

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Society

Science is not complete until it is shared with society. As a public research institution, the IIM understands that its commitment is with society, fostering a two-way relationship with its surrounding community and an open perspective on science.

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Work & Study

Marine scientists, lab technicians, biologists, chemists and engineers, but also economists, lawyers or communicators (both working and in training) contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of our center. With more than 200 employees, the IIM-CSIC is a large community of people who work together for the sake of science, knowledge and sustainability.

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News & Events

Do you want to be aware of the latest at the IIM? The Institute has a whole team involved in communication & outreach, sharing all news that arise and organizing events to reach all sectors of society: from other peers working in science to children in schools or our neighbors from Vigo.

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Biological Systems and Process

Food industry 4.0

Traditional methods of food processing are quickly evolving to integrate the latest advances in information technology, automation and control along entire supply chains and factories, which is known as the Food Industry 4.0 . The idea behind it is to create synergies among all elements along a processing chain, from primary producers to final consumers, based on data and machine learning to drive improvements in productivity, quality and sustainability.

The Institute of Marine Research is contributing to this revolution with its innovative technologies and approaches. Our researchers and technicians currently work on improved sensors & models for production & traceability. By providing real-time data on the status of a process or product, we allow for greater and more flexible control over production. We also add value to these food products and increase their shelf-life. 

Furthermore, the IIM works on the development of new environmentally-friendly packaging and smart interactive labeling to better inform all the agents along the food chain. Finally, exploring new technologies and methods for the valorization of waste products fosters a circular economy, which, once again, brings our society closer to fully sustainable development.

A common example of integration along the value chain is traceability. Traceability of raw materials can increase the added value of food products and prevent food fraud. Moreover, traceability of contamination and quality also ensures food safety and increases shelf life for many products. Sensing technologies and modeling contribute greatly to this effort by providing real-time data on the status of a process or product, thus allowing for greater control and flexibility to optimize the production dynamically.

Food industry is also demanding environmentally friendly conservation and packaging systems, with smart and interactive labeling to increase shelf life and respond to consumers demands. Consumers also demand a more responsible and circular food industry. Valorization of by-products from the food processing industry also helps to minimize its environmental impact, as well as to create new value chains.

As you can see, the institute has been accompanying the food industry during this fourth revolution in many different aspects; you can read about all our capabilities and associated services below.

 

Research groups

Capabilities

  • Patent | Modified atmospheres for conservation of live bivalves in hermetic packaging
    Food industry 4.0 Nutrition and Human Health Biotechnology

    Authors: Laura Pastoriza; Gabriel Sampedro Cedeira; Marta Bernárdez Costas; Marta López Cabo; Juan José Rodríguez Herrera

    The invention relates to a method of preserving live shellfish using a modified atmosphere that is rich in oxygen and contains a second main nitrogen component, so as to preserve live bivalve shellfish and safeguard their quality for as long as possible throughout the whole marketing and sale process. The commercial shellfish packaging must be full and well compacted, for which purpose units must be perfectly inserted during the filling operation using a vibrator so that bivalve shellfish cannot open their valves, thus losing intervalvar liquid, throughout the marketing process. The invention relates to the most popular bivalve on the market in terms of sales and price and, as a result, is of particular interest to the mussel industry. More detailed information can be obtained here.

     

     

    Related research groups

    Microbiology & Technology of Marine Products
  • Patent | Procedure for the identification of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in canned tuna
    Food industry 4.0 Nutrition and Human Health Biotechnology

    Authors: Carmen González Sotelo; Isabel Medina; Ricardo Pérez Martín; Javier Quinteiro Vázquez; Manuel Rey Méndez

    Technique for the identification of Thunnus alalunga in preserved tuna products, which comprises the amplification of a 187-pb fragment (BDR) of the cytochrome b gene in mitochondrial DNA by the sequential use of two endonucleases. This allows distinguishing it from other species used as substitutes for Thunnus alalunga in canned products. More detailed information can be found here.

     

     

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Chemistry of Marine Products
  • Patent | Procedure for the identification of frigate mackerel (Auxis thazard) in canned frigate mackerel
    Food industry 4.0 Biotechnology Nutrition and Human Health

    Authors: Carmen González Sotelo; Isabel Medina; Ricardo Pérez Martín; Javier Quinteiro Vázquez; Manuel Rey Méndez

    Technique for the identification of Auxis thazard in preserved fish products, which consists of the amplification of a 187-pb fragment (BDR) of the cytochrome b gene in mitochondrial DNA by the use of a restriction endonuclease. This allows distinguishing it from other species used as substitutes for Auxis thazard. More detailed information can found here.

     

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Chemistry of Marine Products
  • Patent | Differentiation of various tuna species in canned tuna products
    Food industry 4.0

    Authors: Carmen González Sotelo; Isabel Medina; Ricardo Pérez Martín; Javier Quinteiro Vázquez; Manuel Rey Méndez

    Technique for the differentiation of various tuna species in canned tuna products, consisting of the sequential use of a set of restriction endonucleases on an amplified 187-bp fragment known as bdr of the b cytochrome in the mitochondrial ADN. Thus, Thunnus thynnus, T. obesus, T. albacares and Katsuwonus pelamis are distinguished by fragment analysis. More detailed information can be found here.

     

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Chemistry of Marine Products
  • Software | GLOBALm: a clustering method for constrained global optimization problems in Matlab
    Food industry 4.0 Biotechnology

    Method described in Csendes, T., L. Pal, J.O.H. Sendin, J.R. Banga (2008) The GLOBAL Optimization Method Revisited. Optimization Letters, 2(4):445-454.

    Software available upon request (email us if interested).

    Related research groups

    Biosystem & Bioprocesses Engineering

Services

Active projects