The aim of the project is to develop innovative diagnostic tools for the agri-food sector based on molecularly imprinted polymer-based gas sensors. These sensors will be used for the simple and rapid detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are indicators of anomalies (fungal contamination, appearance of undesirable odours, microbial attacks, rotting, etc.) without using complex analytical methods.
This is an innovative technology with many potential applications: early detection of post-harvest diseases for cereals, fruit and vegetables; early detection of the presence of insects in stored foods; early detection of diseases in the field; plant health monitoring of foodstuffs during transport, etc.
The purpose of the Agrosensor project is to develop demonstrators dedicated to two well-defined applications: (1) the detection of boar taint in uncastrated pigs (which gives a bad smell when cooking pork) in slaughterhouses, and (2) the detection of mycotoxins at cereal reception.
