Category: News

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is now offering an electronic course on the effects of climate change on aquaculture and fisheries and responses to them, both in the form of adaptation and mitigation measures. The course, which is now open to all through the FAO website, was conducted in connection with the ClimeFish research project that has just been completed. Matís oversaw the part of the project that dealt with adaptation to the effects of climate change and the preparation of adaptation plans for aquaculture and fisheries, and therefore played a major role in the preparation of the study material.

The course in question is based on the FAO's extensive work in the field of climate issues in the fisheries sector, in addition to which the main results of the ClimeFish project are utilized. The FAO has been a leader in this field and has published numerous reports and summaries on the impact of climate change on the global fisheries sector and the challenges involved. These include a large audit from the year 2018, which Matís also discussed on his website. The course provides insight into the effects of climate change on aquaculture and fisheries, adaptation and mitigation measures, as well as the methods that have been developed to set up adaptation measures to respond. Anyone interested in raising awareness of the subject can simply create user access through the FAO website and then take the 2-hour course. The course is therefore accessible to everyone but was designed with certain groups in mind, ie. political leaders and parties within the administration, students, experts, project managers and educational representatives within the fisheries sector.

The structure of the course is such that after a detailed introduction, the course material is divided into three units, where the first is intended to increase the general understanding of climate change and its effects in aquaculture and fisheries, the second unit deals with adaptation, adaptation measures and adaptation plans and the third discusses mitigation measures and how they can reduce emissions within the sector.

The course is available in electronic form through the FAO website, where it can also be downloaded free of charge. At the end of the course, a special recognition document can be obtained, in exchange for passing a short final exam.

Matís' approach to assessing the impact of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture, the development of action plans, as well as the development of guidelines and teaching material in those areas, is a good example of how international co-operation in the field of research and innovation builds knowledge and infrastructure for Icelandic society.

The course can be accessed here.

Matís conducts various research, most of which revolve around food in some way. We need people to help us with this research. 

Participation may include, for example:

• Focus group work where food-related issues or products that are in development are discussed.
• Surveys where participants evaluate products at home.
• Opinion polls on food-related issues online.
• Surveys or evaluations of products in Matís' premises at Vínlandsleið 12.

For each study, participants will be selected from the mailing list and invited to participate. Participants in larger projects receive rewards in the form of small gifts, gift certificates, or participation in lotteries.

A participant in a mailing list can at any time request that information about the person in question be removed from the list.

The following factors apply to all Matís research:

• Participants enjoy the utmost confidentiality.
• The names of the participants do not appear anywhere in the publication of the result.
• Participants are always free to participate in the study in question.
• All data will be processed in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Registration on Matís' consumer list takes place here.

Yesterday, International Food Safety Day was celebrated for the second time. Matís is a leader in chemical and microbiological research on food in Iceland. The company's strength lies in a broad base of capabilities, knowledge and infrastructure as well as connections with industry and the countryside. 

Matís' research has been extensive, as the latest and best technology available at any given time has been used in different and varied projects. For example, emphasis has been placed on research into undesirable micro-organisms in food and processing environments, and analytical methods have been developed. Increased understanding of the nature, origin and transmission routes of pathogenic micro-organisms is important to ensure food safety and prevent epidemics and enhance consumer safety. Dissemination of knowledge to the public and the scientific community through the publication of promotional material and articles in journals is an important part of that work.

It is fundamental for Icelandic consumers to be able to trust that the food sold in this country does not threaten public health. It is important to be able to react quickly when food security is threatened. Due to the country's location, it must be ensured that the necessary research and security services are always available. This is especially true for microbiological analyzes where pathogenic micro-organisms can only be detected for a limited time. In the case of an international threat that is simultaneously prevailing in many countries, it is not possible to ensure that foreign laboratories prioritize Icelandic samples.

By implementing European food legislation, Iceland has committed itself to lifting the ban on imports of fresh produce. In order to ensure consumer safety, it is necessary to know the quality of food on the market, both those produced domestically and those imported into the country, including with regard to pathogenic micro-organisms.

Food security has become increasingly important in media coverage around the world in recent years. But there is a lot of contradictory information when it comes to food safety, such as seafood, such as wild fish, but also agricultural products, such as milk and eggs. Negative coverage of Icelandic food can in a short time destroy a positive image that has taken decades to build up and severely hurt Icelanders' export earnings and reduce production and sales in the domestic market. In such circumstances, it is necessary for the government to be able to respond immediately by having high-quality and well-defined scientific data available on undesirable substances and micro-organisms in Icelandic food in order to demonstrate safety and wholesomeness. Of course, the export of seafood and other foodstuffs also depends on the ability to demonstrate wholesomeness with regard to laws, regulations and requirements of buyers.

Reliable data is necessary at all times and therefore requires constant monitoring of the condition of Icelandic food and comparisons with comparable foreign foods sold in Iceland. Icelandic seafood, for example, has long been marketed with an emphasis on purity and wholesomeness. Claims about this, however, are insufficient, it is necessary to support them with reliable data from an independent party. Such data can facilitate the marketing and sale of Icelandic products in demanding foreign markets, as requirements for quality and safety are reflected in product prices.

A more detailed description of the projects can be found at VMST website

Matís is looking for university students for the following jobs on the VMST website:

• Work a laboratory in biotechnology
• Work on research on seafood
• Work in a laboratory in chemical and microbial measurements
• Work in a laboratory in chemical measurements
• Work on research in the circular economy
• Work on research in chemical measurements
• Work in a laboratory
• Food in tourism
• Work in the laboratory and in fish drying
• Work on aquaculture research
• Work in a laboratory in microbiology
• Genetic research
• Assistant in a research project in the field of processing technology
• News dissemination and website setup

Educational and qualification requirements:

• The applicant must be in between studies
• Education specified in each application
• Ability to express oneself in speech and writing in Icelandic and English

The application deadline is June 7th

Further information is provided by the responsible party for each application.

Apply for a job on the VMST recruitment site

Matís has submitted a report to the Ministry of Industry and Innovation describing the results of the activities covered by the service agreement with the Ministry in 2019.

The report can be accessed here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on food production, sales, distribution and consumption. Under the banner EIT Food and in collaboration with Matís, grants are now being offered for projects to respond to the effects of the epidemic on food production and consumer behavior.

The projects must be effective in the form of marketable products or services this year or early next year and are linked to new supply chains within the food sector, changing consumer behavior, increased food security or improved nutrition.

Matís is looking for Icelandic companies that could take advantage of this opportunity and have an excellent idea (s) for marketable products or services to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic. Are you interested or have an idea for such a product or service?

If so, contact Guðmundur Stefánsson (gst@matis.is) or Sæmund Sveinsson (saemundurs@matis.is) for more information on Wednesday, May 20th.

Matís is a public company and runs a public laboratory, for example in pesticide measurements, which serves, among other things, regulatory bodies, ie. Matvælastofnun and Heilbrigðiseftirlit sveitafélaganna, which take samples from food companies for official control. 

Matís has a limited contribution from the state as well as being in a competitive market, so Matís is not allowed to subsidize metering services with public funds. The Association of Employers (FA) published a letter on its website on 28 April where the FA protests against tariff increases for inspection visits by the Food Administration and health inspections to food companies. In its response to the FA, Matvælastofnun points out that Matís' tariff has risen and that discounts to public bodies have been abolished. It is more accurate to say that discount terms have been harmonized between all Matís customers and public bodies receive the same terms as companies and individuals in the general market.

The FA takes pesticide measurements as an example of a price increase and points out that the unit price for pesticide analyzes has risen from ISK 81,760 in 2016 to ISK 105,578 earlier this year, or by 29.1% in these four years. Matís' price list has risen annually in line with increases in inputs and wage indices. The last price list increase and harmonization of terms was announced to Matvælastofnun and other public regulators in January 2020, but Matís has always tried to keep price price increases to a minimum to ensure that levies on Icelandic companies are not increased. It should be noted, however, that this increase, taken by the FA as an example, is lower than the increase in the public sector wage index over these four years. Since 2014, Matís has worked diligently to add a number of pesticides that are screened for in order to enable the Food Administration and the Municipal Health Inspectorate to fulfill their obligations and enforce legislation on food safety and consumer protection. The number of pesticides screened for in each sample is today considerably higher than in 2016. Matís screens for 201 pesticides in fruit, vegetables and cereals, of which 192 substances are accredited, compared to 135 pesticides in 2016, of which 96 are accredited.

Regarding changes in discounts to public entities, Matís points out that these are measures that Matís has been working on since 2016, ie. to equalize discount terms for all its customers. Today, all discounts to customers are turnover-related.

"Few people have contributed more to research and innovation in the fisheries sector than Sigurjón Arason, Matís' chief engineer and professor at the University of Iceland," says the author of Morgunblaðið in an interview with Sigurjón on the occasion of his 70th birthday last weekend.

"The strength of the industry is based on several factors, such as the knowledge building that has taken place, how many well-educated people in the fishing industry, and how hard the companies and the scientific community have worked together. The prevailing view within the industry is that it is the common goal of all of us, on behalf of the Icelandic fishing industry, to beat all competitors, "says Sigurjón in the article, among other things.

The interview with Sigurjón can be read in its entirety here.

We at Matís are looking for people to participate in discussion groups for research projects led by Matís experts. The discussions focus on diet, food, and food ingredients, and are part of a new research project funded by the European Union and based on collaboration between parties from several countries.

The purpose of the study is to obtain information about consumers' diets and insights into their attitudes towards various types of food and their ingredients. Participation in the study involves discussing the topic in a group of 4-6 people, and the discussions will be moderated by a Matís employee. In the discussion groups, participants will be asked about their diet and attitudes towards foods and ingredients of various kinds.

The discussions will be held through the Teams teleconferencing equipment. Participants must therefore have a computer or telephone at their disposal. Participants must also have an electronic ID. Assistance will be provided with technical problems via the Internet if necessary. The discussions are expected to last a maximum of two hours. Participants can send 5,000 ISK. commission after the forums.

The discussions will be recorded, both audio and video, and the results will be processed according to a methodology for qualitative research. The names of the participants, or other personal information, will not appear anywhere in the interpretation of the results, reports, articles or other material where the study will be discussed. Data processing will be in accordance with the Privacy Act.

The composition of individuals in the focus groups depends on various predetermined background factors and consumption behavior. If you are interested in participating in the discussion groups, you can click on the link below, which will take you to a short survey where you will be asked about the factors that determine the choice of participants. If you qualify, you will be asked to provide your name, phone number and email address at the end of the survey. You will soon be contacted about whether you are invited to participate, as well as the organization and timing of the discussion groups.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F3PTT78

Recently a new one began EIT food project under the name "Smart Tags". The aim of the project is to increase consumer confidence in food and food systems by sharing information about the value chain throughout the product's life cycle. The project aims to share interactive information with consumers and suppliers using so-called smart tags or smart tags. The technology offers numerous possibilities in the field of information provision, as well as the development of products and services. With the advent of technology, the food industry also gets a powerful tool to gain insight into consumer needs and thus facilitates innovation tailored to consumer needs. 

International food value chains are often long and complex. This makes it difficult for consumers to trust the information provided by suppliers. Research has shown that the information available on food today is insufficient in the opinion of consumers. Examples of information that consumers are interested in include; Ingredients, origin, product sustainability, fair trade, modes of transport and mode of transport, service life and recycling potential. Information on nutritional value can often be difficult to understand, and products are often decorated with meaningless or unsubstantiated labels such as "sustainable", "natural" and "healthy".

Smart tags can come in a variety of forms. They can be in the form of simple barcodes that can be read with a smartphone, they can also use active convertible ink that can provide relevant real-time information. Smart labels also give consumers the opportunity to exercise restraint through direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers or other stakeholders. The term smart tag is used for tags that can measure environmental variables with, for example, variable flashes, indicators or sensors using software solutions. Bar codes printed with active variable ink change automatically according to environmental variables, for example with changes in temperature or humidity. Under these conditions, the color of the bar code section appears, disappears or changes and can therefore provide updated information to the consumer.

The Smart Tags project is led by VTT in Finland, but other participants are Matís, the University of Reading in the UK, the University of Warsaw in Poland, KU Leuven in Belgium, AZTI in Spain, DouxMatok in Israel and Maspex in Poland. The project is supported by EIT Food, which is part of the European Union.

The innovative solutions that will be developed in the project will be created in close collaboration with consumers and other stakeholders in all participating countries in the project. The project will run through the year 2021 and it will be possible to monitor its progress website of the project and Twitter its account.