ProSafeBeef Research

ProSafeBeef Research

The EU has a strategically important global position in terms of beef production and consumption.  Currently, the beef chain in Europe is valued at ca. €75 billion, which accounts for ca. 10% of European agricultural output. In 2003, the EU-25 region produced 8.06 million tons and consumed 8.32 million tons of beef and beef products, with an additional 0.60 and 0.045 million tons being imported and exported, respectively (source: Future trends in the European Beef Industry: a global view: David Evans, Beef Production Systems Ltd., Bristol, 2005).

However, increased globalisation, reduced commodity prices and an increasingly sophisticated European consumer are motivating the food industry to produce beef and beef products that are convenient, traceable, of consistent eating quality and diverse due to national, regional and cultural preferences. Above all, given the serious consequences of sporadic health and safety scares linked to the beef chain, today’s consumers are demanding that beef and beef products are safe.

Again, our key objectives are:

  • Developing and applying quantitative risk assessment models to monitor, trace and reduce   microbial /chemical contamination in the beef chain .
  • Establishing novel control and intervention strategies for microbial pathogens at key points in the beef chain to maximise the safety of beef and beef products.
  • Satisfying consumer demand for diversity and choice and both invigorate and add value to the beef chain by developing innovative processing techniques and products.
  • Engaging with SME's, expert collaborators from 3rd countries and INCO partners with a vested interest in beef export to assist in delivery of the ProSafeBeef project

    To address these critical issues in the beef chain, the following scientific and technological objectives are established:
    • To apply the tools of quantitative risk assessment to reduce microbial and chemical hazards along the beef chain (fork-to-farm) in order to maximise beef safety and enhance consumer confidence.
    • To develop novel and innovative control and intervention strategies for implementation along the beef chain (fork-to-farm) to ensure the safety of beef and beef products.
    •  To satisfy consumer demand for choice and both invigorate and add value to the beef chain (fork-to-farm) by developing innovative beef processing techniques and innovative beef products that are safe, attractive to the customer and of high nutritional quality.
    • To engage with SME's, expert collaborators from third countries and INCO partners with a vested interest in beef export to assist in delivery of the ProSafeBeef project.
    • To transfer technologies and disseminate information from the RTD and ITD Pillars in the ProSafeBeef to the end users and wider stakeholders in the beef industry.

    These activities will permit ProSafeBeef to deliver to the beef industry a toolbox of strategies and practice to reduce microbiological and chemical contaminants in the beef supply chain through an integrated fork-to-farm framework approach, and develop a range of novel products that are safe, convenient, of high quality and attractive to the consumer.

     

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