Abstract
The meat production chain is complex and begins with the Pre-harvest (feed, farm biosecurity, herd/flock health status, animal welfare, transportation, livestock market/abattoir lairage), followed by Harvest (slaughter, dressing, chilling) and Post-harvest module (deboning, meat processing, packaging, distribution, retail, consumer). Consumers` awareness increased globally regarding animal health, welfare and food safety/quality, food fraud, including food systems` sustainability and impact of meat production chain to the climate change. Competent authorities and retail chains also demand proper and accurate information on animal health, welfare and meat-borne food safety hazards in real time to make evidence-based decisions. The transformation of traditional meat value chain towards better sustainability depends on reliable and affordable tools to optimize such transformation and fulfil food safety objectives. Sensing systems (biosensors), as `Lab-On-A-Chip` and `Point-Of-Care` devices suitable for field application, can play an important role and become a part of the solution for transformation of food systems towards sustainable and climate-smart agri-food chain, including within the meat production chain in farm-to-fork continuum. Biosensors allow early and accurate quantitative detection of different animal health and welfare biomarkers, including detection of food-borne hazards, to support food safety risk management in both, `traditional` and `novel` (e.g. cell-based meat) food value chains for the benefit of global population. Further research should be focused on development of multiplex sensing systems with capability for simultaneous detection of selected biomarkers to support integrated approach toward food (meat) system` transformation enabling early information on animal health and welfare relevant for farm production parameters, as well as food safety.
Biography
Ivan Nastasijević is an experienced food safety scientist with diversified experience related to applied research, teaching and outreach programme tailored for the meat industry. His expertise include risk assessment, food safety management system (HACCP), risk-based meat inspection, Longitudinally Integrated Safety Assurance (LISA), control strategies of zoonotic food (meat) borne pathogens and AMR along the meat chain, as well as risk communication. His current research interest is related to development and application of multiplex biosensors in farm-slaughterhouse continuum to support animal health, welfare and food safety management based on Food Chain Information (FCI) within integrated meat safety assurance system.