FLAVOURE- Food and Feed Laboratory of Varied and Outstanding Research in Estonia

Joining forces, increasing collaboration, transferring research results to practice and making a maximum use of research potential are cornerstones of the European Research Area. Food and Feed quality and safety is a crucial topic for consumers health today. The main aim of the FLAVOURE project presented by ERIA is to advance capacity for assessment and prognoses of quality risks of food and feed and develop new molecular biological assessment methods.
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FLAVOURE partners consist in entities ranging from convergent regions (Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria) to Western European countries (Finland, Denmark and Spain) covering the whole food chain. Moreover, FLAVOURE will join a European FOOD CLUSTER, increasing its visibility in the ERA. The following results are expected: - Improving competence in food and feed quality, safety and risk assessment through a new Food and Feed Safety and Quality Network; joint events with top quality research centres and individual contacts between researchers; - Strengthening laboratory facilities at ERIA for protein chemistry and trace components related analyses (HPLC, Gas Chromatography, Spectrophotometer), DNA-analyses (PCR equipment, equipment for electrophoresis) and samples preparation (centrifuges universal ovens).
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The laboratory will contribute to provide life-long learning for research institutions, hands-on experience for young scientists and a meeting point for knowledge exchange; - Building closer local cooperation with agricultural producers, government officials, through seminars, advisory services and a technology network; - Increasing participation to EU projects, since ERIA is a fast developing research institute with an ambitious development strategy, a rapidly increasing international red, a high ability to react to changes and a solid experience in project management. These advantages provide a solid basis for FLAVOURE's success.