Projects
PhD: Development of thermal- and impedance-based sensor for applications in the food industry. Hasselt University
Innovative approach to perform challenge tests for shelf-life and microbial stability determination in the food industry and allied sectors (I-Challenge) Ghent University
This project continues on the knowledge obtained from the previouw Advanced IOF project (finished in September 2021). The major objective of this new project is to deliver a ‘proof of concept’ to convince investors to participate in a spinoff or the licensing towards an international service provider that will market products which will greatly facilitate microbial shelf-life and stability tests in the food industry and allied sectors. The ...
Cost-efficient strategies for building, transferring and maintenance of in factory spectroscopic sensors KU Leuven
The process of quality control for the inspection of products in industries requires methods that quantify the concentration of chemical constituents before products are distributed to consumers. Nowadays, industries are transforming these processes by adopting methods that are more efficient, waste fewer resources, and are non-destructive for the material that is inspected. Such methods rely on spectroscopy technology in which devices are ...
High-tech sensors for monitoring the release of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from recycled plastic in a circular economy. KU Leuven
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of chemical compounds that are used for the production of fluoropolymers (e.g. Teflon). These polymers are used in numerous applications ranging from clothing to food containers. The widespread use of these compounds can be attributed to their unique chemical characteristics. Unfortunately, these compounds are also very stable and persistent with extensive half-lives reported in aqueous ...
Microbiological dynamics and safety risks during rearing of insects for food and feed KU Leuven
The potential of insects as novel protein source in food and feed is gaining increased attention in western countries. Insects are considered as “minilivestock” with potential of being produced more sustainably as compared to traditional livestock and livestock feed ingredients (e.g. soybean meal and fishmeal), while exhibiting equal nutritional qualities. However, little knowledge exists on the endogenous microbiota of industrially reared ...
4D Biophotonics for Sustainable Food Production KU Leuven
Meeting the grand challenge of feeding 10 billion people while reducing the ecological impact of food production requires detailed monitoring and control of the dynamic processes in plants, animals and food products. Photonic technologies have high potential in this context, but the large progress at the hardware side has so far only resulted in limited impact on the agrofood sector. Therefore, this research program aims to untap this ...
Automatic food intake monitoring for the ageing population KU Leuven
Food intake monitoring can play an important role in the prevention of malnutrition among older adults. Traditional monitoring methods typically involve the use of pen-and-paper food diaries or questionnaires. While digital alternatives exist, these tools rely on manual data entry, often multiple times a day. Furthermore, the recorded data may be incomplete and contain mistakes due to human error or a deliberate misreporting of the food ...
Innovation Manager for the Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCE) KU Leuven
Today, the whole food chain is more complex than ever. Many challenges face all involved, be it in agriculture, food production, retail, policy making and regulatory bodies, or research and development. Challenges include increasing the sustainability of food production systems, assuring and improving the quality and safety of food products, conferring health-promoting properties to food products, and dealing with the shift in age profile of ...
Method and instrument for in-situ measurement of light depolarization by birefringent particles suspended in water; a polarized transmissometer (PolTrans) Ghent University
Aquatic ecosystems provide essential services to society; from acting as a sink for atmospheric CO2 to food production. However, aquatic environmental health and services are under risk of irreversible damage, requiring continuous fit-for-purpose monitoring. The aim of the PolTrans project is to build a low-power, compact, submersible sensor for the autonomous measurement of birefringent particles in water, namely 1) calcium carbonate ...