Category: News

On Friday 3 July, Atvinnuvegur and the Ministry of Innovation and Matís agreed on Matís' operation of referral laboratories in seven areas.

On Friday 3 July composed The Ministry of Industry and Innovation and Matís on Matís' operation of reference laboratories (TVR; e. National Reference Laboratory (NRL)) in accordance with Regulation no. 106/2010 and Act no. 93/1995. According to the agreement, Matís is responsible for the operation of TVR in seven areas: diagnosis and testing for diseases transmitted between humans and animals, monitoring of viruses and bacterial contamination in shellfish, research on Listeria monocytogenes, research on coagulase positive cluster cocci, research on Escherichia coli, research on pesticide residues and research on heavy metals. 

Reference laboratories in Iceland operate in collaboration with other reference laboratories in the European Economic Area. The statutory role and main responsibilities of the Reference Laboratory are diverse and include the coordination of the activities of nominated public research in each country. This includes advice and guidance on measurement methods, participation in the development and verification of measurement methods and the organization of comparative testsna, inform designated laboratories in the field of measurement of comparative tests, monitor the results of laboratories and offer assistance or take action according to Art. a specific process if necessary, disseminating knowledge and information from foreign reference laboratories to laboratories in Iceland, providing scientific and technical assistance to the competent authorities and maintaining accreditation.

It should be noted that Matís is not a supervisory body, supervision is in the hands of the Food Administration (MAST), or the parties to whom MAST entrusts the implementation of the supervision. Matís Reference Laboratories are one of the most advanced in the country and can meet the diverse needs of customers with a wide range of accredited measurement methods in many different areas. The laboratories are also well connected to foreign laboratories and mediate measurements that cannot be performed in Iceland. Further information is provided Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir

Recently, the concept of bioeconomy has become increasingly commonplace. For example, the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers focused on the Nordic bioeconomy, and the current Danish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers takes into account the bioeconomy, especially the ocean, or the blue bioeconomy. .

In connection with this emphasis, we can mention a successful conference held in the Faroe Islands last June, which discussed bioeconomy following the emphasis on knowledge societies. European co-operation on research and development identified the "knowledge-based bioeconomy" as one of the co-operation priorities for the years 2007-2013.

Food producers have common interests and co-operation between different branches of food production can benefit each and every one as well as a larger group of food producers. For example, Matvælalandið Ísland has highlighted the undoubted benefits of multifaceted co-operation within the bioeconomy.

There are many different definitions of the bioeconomy. The definition often takes into account the environment of the definer and the interests of a smaller or larger entity in a particular area. It is important that the definition of a bioeconomy covers issues that are all important, as a bioeconomy in one place is likely to affect the bioeconomy of other places. 

The term bioeconomy has been used to cover all life resources, their interplay and context and their impact on economic, environmental and social factors. Bioeconomic research thus transcends industries and seeks to maximize the benefits of resources without compromising them.

Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Matís 2013 annual report

Matís encourages all interested parties to register their ideas that can contribute to increased integrity in food value chains. Matís as a formal participant in the project MatarHeilindi will not compete for the funds offered here for limited research in the field MatarHeilinda after all, that was never the intention. In accordance with the plans of the participants in the project, the collaboration is being opened up to outside parties in this way.

As an active participant in the project MatarHeilindi (e.FoodIntegrity) draws Matís' attention to the unique opportunities that are now offered to outsiders. Since the beginning of the project (at the beginning of 2014), the aim has been to allow outside parties to the project. Now it's time. Interested parties may express an interest in joining the project and use the funds available to the project to carry out research that serves the same purpose as the overall project.

Interested parties need to submit their ideas accordingly a description of the project's website until 14 August at 15:00 Icelandic time. None of the 38 parties formally involved in the project MatarHeilindi can list their ideas. This is an open approach to ideas (projects) related to Standardization and Coordination, new solutions to ensure food integrity, feasibility study on how to share information along food value chains and rapid effective methods for fraud analysis. Funding for research in the above areas is estimated at € 3 million. Support for research-related costs in projects related to feasibility studies can amount to up to € 250,000, for projects dealing with standardization and harmonization on the one hand and new solutions on the other hand, support can possibly amount to up to half a million € and for projects related to rapid solutions support can potentially amount to up to € 750,000.

The project is led by Fera, the British Food and Drug Administration. MatarHeilindi deal with food that is whole / intact or in perfect condition, ie that buyers can safely deliver the product they think they are buying. Consumers or other stakeholders in the European food value chain need to be assured of safety, reliability and quality. Integrity in the food industry is a key factor in increasing the value of the continent's bioeconomy. The integrity of European foods is constantly threatened by fraudulent labels or imitations sold to reap the benefits of its added value. The project is intended to be a focal point in international coordination in the utilization of research and development in ensuring the integrity of European food with the participation of the core group of the project. Fera oversees this aspect of the project.

Matís fulfills its role, to increase the value of food, promote food security and improve public health through development and research, by encouraging interested parties to explore the benefits of registering their ideas in a timely manner and thereby take advantage of this opportunity.

Research Group Leader Value chain and sustainability Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson is responsible for Matís' participation in the project MatarHeilindi.

This summer, Matís employs a number of foreign and domestic summer students. Their role is diverse, from research to marketing and everything in between.

There has been a great demand for summer jobs and work-related studies at Matís, not least from abroad and especially from France, but this summer the largest group is from there. Otherwise, the students are from a number of other countries, such as Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Hungary and more. countries.

During the week, a number of people went out to Faxaflói and Elliðaár to get samples for research.

Margeir Gissurarson, director of Matís, and Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir, director of Matís, are currently in the Caribbean, advising the governments of the region on fisheries and fish exports to the region, especially to Europe.

Matís' expertise in this project was requested. Matís' episode lasts for about five weeks in the first part of the project. Matís makes proposals for improvements for the countries that are members of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). Later, Matís' involvement in the changes that need to be made to fisheries in this area in order for fish exports to begin in Europe can be seen.

News Caribbean News Desk and news Grenada Informer.

For more information Many and Helga.

Matís encourages its staff to attend celebrations for the centenary of women's suffrage and thus demonstrate their support for equality.

Matís is giving staff a holiday in the afternoon tomorrow, Friday 19 June, on the occasion of the centenary of Icelandic women's suffrage, and all employees of the company are encouraged to take part in the celebrations of this important day.  

Matís' policy on gender equality is to ensure equal status for the sexes. It is Matís' goal that all employees enjoy the same respect and have equal opportunities for career advancement, regardless of gender, nationality, position or circumstances. Equality is maintained in all decision-making involving employees, including decisions on employment, pay and retraining.

Emergency number

The Department of Microbiology is 422-5116 / 858-5116.

At the end of last week, Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís, and Glenn Blackwood, Assistant President of the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the advancement of teaching, training and research and development in sustainable fisheries.

The declaration of intent places increased emphasis on practical research in the value chain of seafood and marine products and on further co-operation with fisheries-related industries in the two countries.

Furthermore, the declaration of intent creates a channel for students and teachers from the countries to increase co-operation that can take even more account of the needs of the industry in the two countries.

With this declaration of intent, the issues of the Marine Research Institute (MI) and Matís are strengthened externally when it comes to the sustainable growth of the blue economy.

EuroMix (European Test and Risk Assessment Strategies for Mixtures) is a new project funded by the European Research Program (H2020). EuroMix will present an experimental program to study the common effects of compounds (preparations) that we come into contact with in our daily lives, using both new and previously known toxicological tests.

The project is extremely important for modern society, as the interaction of different compounds has so far not been sufficiently studied and the EU has emphasized the need for risk assessment of preparations is necessary in the future.

Initial meeting (May 20-21 at RIVM, Bilthoven)

Experts from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA), the European Joint Research Center (ECO) and experts who have participated in international discussions such as RISK 21 at the inaugural meeting of the project, where an overview of research carried out in Europe and from other countries was presented. The main areas of toxicology, new and advanced research methods and risk assessment of compound preparations were reviewed. The main points of the EuroMix project were presented at the inaugural meeting and placed in the context of international development and research.

Goals and steps

EuroMix aims to develop and verify an experimental program for mixtures of different substances with different sources and effects on different human life stages. Experiments will be carried out where results and experience will be presented in practical guidelines for future research plans. Since the number of preparations we come in contact with in daily life is infinite, certain key mixtures will be defined.

These key preparations will be tested and the results of the research will be used in the future for databases to assess our exposure to preparations. The usefulness of bioassays will be evaluated for preparations and the most suitable methods found will be verified and validated in comparison with animal experiments. New models for performing risk assessments for preparations will be developed and exposure assessments will be carried out. A new EuroMix model will be made available to stakeholders through a public website. The EuroMix project will provide advice to international organizations on how to use bioactivity tests as well as the use of the model for future research and risk assessment of preparations.

results

The project is expected to increase innovation in both the public and private sectors. The project will provide a solid scientific basis for evaluating the effects of preparations as well as reducing the use of experimental animals in the future. The project will also support a discussion of a co-ordinated policy on risk assessment within the EU, the Codex Alimentarius and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

International cooperation

There are 22 partners in the EuroMix project and four international parties are involved in the project. The project is part of the EU's research and innovation program, Horizon 2020, which is based on previous European research projects. EuroMix partners and the European Commission have agreed to co-finance € 8 million.

The Dutch Public Health and Environment Agency RIVM is leading the EuroMix project. Other institutions are listed in Annex 1.

For further information dr. Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir at Matís.

Links and additional material

http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193181_en.html link to EU page

http://horizon2020projects.com/

The Icelandic fisheries sector is important to Iceland and the Icelandic economy. Over the last 20 years or so, the value of the catch has increased significantly, at the same time as the total catch has remained virtually unchanged; we are thus utilizing every kg. earn better than ever before! 

How is this possible? This short video might shed some light on that!

The inaugural meeting in the Icelandic part of the DiscardLess project took place at Matís last week. week, but the project aims to increase the full utilization of all catches caught within European countries and is managed by DTU in Denmark. The information and technology that comes out of the project will also be usable in other countries, as it is to everyone's benefit that seafood that is not requested or is not used is either not provided or fully utilized for increased value creation.

The big issue is not to catch seafood that is not used for value creation and thus it is possible to reduce the waste of a limited resource. But sometimes it happens that unwanted catch is caught and bycatch is a clear example of this. It is therefore important to ensure that such power is utilized as much as possible. In addition, it must not be forgotten that it is important to make full use of the catch we want to land so that as much value as possible is created from each kg of seafood caught. Icelanders have done particularly well in the full utilization of various fish species, especially cod.

More about DiscardLess can be found in the brochure about the project as well as on CORDIS page of the project. Matís' contact with the project is Jónas R. Viðarsson and he provides all the details of this interesting and timely project.