The aim of the project is to select, evaluate and use parameters and fast methods of identifying them, which will help in the safety, identification, and determination of characteristics of local dairy products of Crete. At the same time, a fast and reliable test will be developed for the diagnosis of brucellosis in the milk of sheep and goat farms, an important disease that determines to a significant extent the methods of processing milk and producing dairy products.
For the development of a method for quality control and control of origin of dairy products of Crete using optical spectroscopy techniques, the laboratory of Photonics Applications for Agrofoods and Environment at IESL-FORTH will carry out the optical measurements. The optical techniques selected (UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence, and FT-IR) are those applied internationally and have shown that they are suitable for food quality control.
The objectives of the project are:
1. To enable the exploitation of the characteristics of local products by quickly identifying them and diversifying them. In addition, to help local cheese shops and prevent consumer deception.
2. The second objective of the proposal is to be able to identify positive brucella by controlling farmed milk and then to follow a universal blood collection in the animals of positive farms. At the same time, the method will enable continuous monitoring of farms easily and efficiently. A check that ensures the safety of the products produced, but at the same time will help to process milk exclusively from brucellosis-free farms.