Hutton scientists supporting major food safety drive in potato and cereal products

“It is exciting to see that some of our more fundamental research into crop stresses can be applied, through innovating projects, to improve food safety standards”

Scientists from the James Hutton Institute are supporting an industry-led Innovate UK project aimed at improving food safety standards in potato, cereal, bread and other food products.

The £1.99m initiative, led by Industrial Technology Systems Limited (ITS), has also enlisted the support of Teeside University, Abertay University and commercial partners.

The consortium will develop new chemical measurement, sampling, assessment and control techniques for enhanced food safety standards.

Hutton scientists will work with colleagues at Abertay University to investigate tuber protection and new applications to improve tuber qualities. The project runs until January 2021.

ITS, a specialist automation systems developer and integrator based in Middlesbrough and Warrington, is to design and implement a measurement and control system for the project.

Malcolm Knott, managing director of ITS, said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding, for a project which could ultimately prove to be a significant breakthrough in food safety standards. Together with our partners, we make a formidable research team and we look forward to working together over the next three years.’’

Dr Ingo Hein, a potato geneticist based at the James Hutton Institute’s Cell and Molecular Sciences and a contributor to the project, added: “It is exciting to see that some of our more fundamental research into crop stresses can be applied, through innovating projects, to improve food safety standards.”

The fundamental science research underpinning the Hutton contribution to the project has been enabled by funding from the Scottish Government as well as BBSRC.

Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency and is sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Notes to editors:

ITS specialises in the design and implementation of management information and process control systems, regulatory compliance services, project management and engineering services and vision systems across highly regulated and high safety requirement industries. For more information visit http://www.its-ltd.co.uk/.