HIBRO Research Group on Food Science (PAIDI AGR-170)
Description
The Research Group on Food Science (HIBRO, PAIDI AGR-170) is affiliated to the Department of Food Science and Technology of the University of Córdoba. It is formed by a series of highly qualified lecturers and researchers in the fields of predictive microbiology and the quantitative assessment of microbiological risks in foods. The Group has extensive experience (>25 years) in the area of predictive microbiology which is of great relevance today in setting up systems for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). It also provides scientific backing for shelf life estimates and the assessment of microbiological risks. Currently, the Group has established itself through extensive research activity in the field of microbiological risk assessment in regional (>15), national and international (>5) projects, as well as through extensive teaching activity and knowledge transfer to companies in the agri-foods sector.
Teaching
The lecturers of the HIBRO Research Group conduct classes in the Graduate courses on Veterinary Medicine and Food Science and Technology at the University of Córdoba. Additionally, they participate in several university-specific post-graduate courses such as the Master’s Degree in Agri-Foods, or the Master’s Degree in Public Veterinary Healthcare. They also collaborate with other Universities in different post-graduate programmes (Public University of Navarre, University of Barcelona, La Rioja, Castilla-La Mancha, etc.).
The specialised teaching activity of the research group is also of strategic importance in establishing it as a landmark institution in Spain with regard to this discipline, in the form of the Course on Predictive Microbiology: Food Quality and Safety. This is a continuous training activity certified by the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality, a course tailored to the training needs of healthcare professionals in the area of food control and inspection. It is taught at AESAN headquarters and in different Autonomous Regions at the express request of their respective Regional Ministries of Health (Extremadura, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Galicia and Murcia).
Research
The research group consists of researchers who belong to the Andalusian Plan for Research, and who possess extensive experience in the field of agri-foods. Their research activity is geared towards ensuring food quality and safety, especially the development of models to predict microbial behaviour in foods, and to conduct quantitative assessment of risks associated with microbiological hazards that may be present in foods. This has resulted in the development of the microHibro tool (www.microhibro.com) for the implementation and application of predictive models, risk assessment, and food sampling plans. The high level of experience acquired by the members in these aspects has enabled them to act as consultants for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN). The lines of research developed by the group are complementary and integrated, providing high quality research in the field of agri-foods and is in high demand by the agri-foods industry and different official organisations and/or national bodies on food safety and quality. The team seeks to promote international cooperation in research and applied research. For this reason, it has established links with other research groups, companies and public bodies at the national and international level.
Services
The group offers different services through contracts with companies and institutions including shelf-life estimations of food, the development of new methods of microbiological analysis; the development and validation of predictive microbiology and risk assessment models; and characterisation of microbial contamination in food or healthcare facilities.
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