The goal of the laboratory is to conduct studies on quality and innovative techniques for labeling and packaging of fish products. With this in mind, the activities carried out in it are along four main lines of research:
– develop new pre-hygienization techniques for fish that can mitigate the microbial component, which is co-responsible for the progressive degradation to which fishery products go immediately after capture;
– complement established modified atmosphere packaging techniques with new tools that can control the enzymatic autolysis phase that precedes microbial alteration;
– minimize the inevitable loss of quality (oxidation of lipids, loss of tissue fluids, texture of meat, etc.) that seafood products face if improperly frozen, through the use of cryogenic freezing;
– develop new application software for labeling and traceability of catch.
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.
