ILVO T&V Product Quality & Innovation

ILVO-T&V (Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Unit Technology and Food) is a scientific institute belonging to the Flemish Government. ILVO's mission consists of performing and coordinating policy-supporting scientific research and the associated public service in view of a sustainable agriculture and fishery in an economic, ecological and social perspective.

The main activities of ILVO-T&V are:

- Consumer directed research improving the market position of animal (dairy products, meat,
  eggs) and plant products (vegetables and fruit)

- Research improving quality and hygiene of animal products

- Implementation of integrated quality management on the product chain from farmer to
  consumer

- Development of innovative applications of primary agricultural products

- Research on bioactive components in vegetables and fruit and the effect of processing on
  their (bio)availability

- Authenticity research on animal and vegetable products

- Authenticity research on dairy processing (with respect to heat treatment)

- Scientific guidance for the official quality determination of raw milk

- Reference laboratory for research concerning quality of plant and animal (food) products:
  microbiological, chemical, physical-chemical and GMO analyses

- Technology advisory service

The laboratory is also involved in the development and improvement of dairy products and dairy processing methods. The unit T&V disposes of a pilot factory for this purpose.

The laboratory responsible for quality control of plant products is also responsible for GMO (genetically modified organisms) detection, identification and characterization. The analyses are carried out on seeds, grains, commodities, derived and final products. The laboratory is functioning under ISO17025 (BELTEST) accreditation for the detection of in the EU authorized GMOs. The analytical data are of direct use to check the European legislation on the labeling of GMO containing products. The laboratory is also acting the National Reference Laboratory for this expertise in collaboration with WIV and CRA. The research unit is also active in scientific research on GMO detection in international research programs such as Co-extra. Finally staff people are member of national and international working groups on GMO risk evaluation and GMO detection such as (European Network for GMO Laboratories, National Reference Laboratory en European Food Safety Authority).

Currently the laboratory is developing activities in the domain of plant authenticity testing and allergen detection, which is mainly making use of the same technical expertise as is used for GMO detection.

In function of product innovation tools are being developed to measure bioactive compounds and their bioavailability. These tests will be used to compare and study the influence of genetic background, growing conditions and processing on the presence of health promoting compounds in vegetables and fruit.