UCO team has 18 years of experience in basic and applied research related to the use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy for the quality control of agro-food products. They have experience in the scientific co-ordination of several R&D projects for the implementation of NIRS technology in the food and feed industries. They have been participants in different NIRS European Projects in the 3rd, 4rd, 5th and 6th EU FP programmes. The team has also a great deal of experience in the design and management of a Food and Feed Sample Bank, where reference materials are stored in optimal conditions. UCO have also a strong involvement in the organisation of different NIRS education and training programmes.
Some relevant projects:

• “NIR Technology: the spectralprint as a tool (at-line y on-line) for its implementation in quality control, safety and traceability systems in animal feed on field and in plant level”, (2005-2008), funded by MCYT-INIA
• “Safety and traceability in the food chain using NIRS”, (2006-2009), funded by the Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía (Spain)
• “Implementation of NIRS technology for the characterising of carcasses and final products of Iberian pig”, (2008-2010), funded by CTA-Junta de Andalucía (Spain)
• “Development and application of technology to detect pesticides residues in vegetables products”, (2008-2009), funded by CTA-Junta de Andalucía (Spain)
• “Implementation of NIRS technology in the quality control of mayonnaise and other sauces”, (2008-2010), funded by CTA-Junta de Andalucía (Spain)
• “Implementation of on-line NIRS sensors to the traceability and quality control of meat and bone meals in a rendering plant”, (2008-2010), (2008-2009), funded by CTA-Junta de Andalucía (Spain)
• “Automation of the quality control in the production of animal feed in COVAP Cooperative using NIRS”, (2007-2009), funded by the Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía- Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa (Andalucia, Spain)
• “Systematic for conformity testing in the management and inspection of animal feed, based on NIRS technology”, (2008-2010), funded by MEC-INIA (Spain)
• FP5 project STRATFEED “Strategies and methods to detect and quantify mammalian tissues in feedingstuffs” (2000-2004)
• FP6 project SAFEED-PAP “Detection of presence of species-specific processed animal proteins in animal feed. (SAFEED – Processed Animal Proteins)” (2007-2010).

Scientists involved in COST Action Feed for Health: Ana Garrido Varo and Dolores Perez Marin