To ensure safety in the food chain, companies must monitor the presence of harmful bacteria during the production process. Microbiological food testing is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses, protect brand reputation, comply with regulations, and ensure product quality. This is especially important in international trade. Dutch agricultural exports grow annually, partly thanks to strong partners within the EU, with Germany being the largest market. This economic activity requires optimal microbiological compliance.
Current techniques for bacterial detection are often slow (e.g., plate counting takes approximately 72 hours), which delays decision-making. Even specialized protocols have limitations, such as the inability to distinguish between living and dead microorganisms. These limitations increase further when various contaminants need to be detected simultaneously. The BactScan project aims to solve this problem by developing a real-time monitoring tool for the detection of multiple bacteria. This tool will be tested in practice at regional companies as end-users in the food industry. This multidisciplinary project cmbines sensor desing ( Maastricht University), data analysis (ARKONI B.V. en Yookr B.V.) , software development and transition to market (Hochschule Niederrhein en Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo B.V.).
