Innovative research proposals are being sought by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for a range of meat sector issues, including improvements in technology use in meat operations and optimising food and feed sampling and analysis.
While FSA says it’s looking for expressions of interest from researchers in relation to five key meat business areas, it is also open to receiving innovative research ideas that align with its strategic priorities.
The five key areas, selected for immediate attention, are:
- tackling foodborne listeriosis,
- exploring the potential for technology to support FSA’s objectives in meat operations,
- exploring the potential for integrating next generation sequencing and other ’big data’,
- identifying and prioritising the risks to food safety and quality associated with the use of recycled waste-derived materials in agriculture and other aspects of food production, and
- optimising food and feed sampling and analysis.
Work on each of these areas is expected to reach completion by the end of March 2016.
As for additional research ideas, FSA said that further funding might be considered for proposals that match its strategic priorities.