Spain Morant Highlights Tender

The Minister of Science and Innovation Diana Morant has visited the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology IATA of the Higher Council for Scientific Research CSIC to see first-hand its lines of research on food and health and its projects pioneers against COVID-19.Among these projects the development of coronavirus monitoring systems in wastewater and the production of masks in collaboration with the spinoff Bioinicia stand out. After the visit Morant highlighted IATAs activity as a success story in knowledge transfer to respond to the needs of citizens at a time of crisis such as the pandemic.At the beginning of the pandemic IATA adapted to manufacture nanofiber masks due to the lack of filtration materials and the shortage of masks said the minister who recalled that the IATA Laboratory of New Materials and Nanotechnology led by Jos Mara Lagarn has continued to work during the health crisis to develop other models of masks.Likewise the minister has recognized the important contribution of the Gloria Snchez Microbiological Safety Laboratory specialized in the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 by monitoring wastewater to warn of the circulation of the coronavirus in Spain.During the visit Morant has transferred the commitment of the Ministry of Science and Innovation to promote the transfer of knowledge through the reform of the Law of Science Technology and Innovation approved a few days ago in the Council of Ministers . The reform incorporates new mechanisms to reinforce the transfer of knowledge such as the recognition of the six-year period of transfer to encourage the direct transfer of knowledge and innovation generated in the public sector to companies and society.With the reform of the law the Ministry of Science and Innovation intends to promote the collaboration of all the agents of the Science Technology and Innovation System in a system that generates synergies and successful experiences of knowledge transfer and public-private collaboration has the minister pointed out.In addition the regulation seeks to improve the professional career in the field of RDI provide it with greater stability reduce administrative burdens and resolve the main gender inequalities that persist in the Public System of Science Technology and Innovation.Projects in Food Biotechnology Food Safety and QualityThe IATA-CSIC is a reference institute for its work of excellence in Food Food Safety and Quality and Biotechnology. Morant also visited the IATA Yeast Systems Biology Laboratory of biotechnological interest led by Amparo Querol focused on the selection and genetic improvement of new yeast strains of interest in industrial fermentations in wines and beer.Finally Morant has met with the IATA researcher Yolanda Sanz to learn about the research lines of the Microbial Ecology Nutrition and Health Laboratory. This group investigates the influence that the intestinal microbiota exerts on the state of health and the risk of developing pathologies related to diet age and lifestyle.IATA-CSICSince its foundation more than 50 years ago IATA has become an internationally recognized research center in the area of food. IATA a pioneer center of the CSIC in the Valencian Community has a Food Science department in where the physical-chemical characterization of food its processing and its acceptance by the consumer is investigated with emphasis on derivatives of cereals and meat products.In its Food Biotechnology department molecular approaches are developed for the characterization and development of foods focused on microbial biotechnology lactic acid bacteria yeasts and filamentous fungi and foods of plant origin post-harvest of fruits.And in the IATA Food Safety and Preservation Technologies area work is being done on the detection of contaminants the control of pathogenic microorganisms and the development of new sustainable and intelligent materials for the packaging and preservation of food.