Environmental and Food Microbiology
In our effort to place research and innovation at the service of society, the Institute works to guarantee food safety and quality in production systems.
This is the objective of the Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products Group, also known as "MicroTEC". The group works to improve the quality and safety of fish and seafood products according to the "Farm to fork" strategy, ensuring sustainability while mitigating the impacts of climate change and other factors such as population migration or overpopulation.
Its research in the field of food safety currently focuses on the sociobiology of biofilms that harbor the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, addressing aspects related to the genetics, microscopy and ecology of these communities. In addition, the group studies both intra- and interspecific interactions within these mixed communities to contribute to the design of effective, target-specific and environmentally friendly disinfection protocols against biofilms.
MicroTEC also coordinates RISEGAL, the Galician Network of Emerging Food Risks, participating in the identification and characterization of emerging risks in the food production chain. The network aims to anticipate food health risks associated with climate change and thus build new, more resilient production systems.
Finally, within the framework of Food Industry 4.0, our current research on food quality is oriented towards the study of non-invasive technologies, such as hyperspectral analysis, to assess the organoleptic properties and quality of seafood products in an attempt to configure a smart and autonomous agri-food system.
Members
Alberto Gallego Lopez
Alejandro Garrido Maestu
Ana Alexandra Da Costa Ribeiro
Esther Gutierrez Arnillas
Juan Jose Rodriguez Herrera
Lucia Garcia Sanmartin
M.teresa Blanco Martin
Maria Sonia Rodriguez Carrera
Marta Bernardez Costas
