ITENE, the technology center, has achieved significant advances in the development of rapid analytical solutions for microbiological control in the agri-food industry thanks to the AGROSENS project. The initiative, funded by the Valencian Institute for Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) of the Valencian Government and by the European Union through FEDER funds, has enabled the development of biosensing systems capable of detecting critical foodborne pathogens in as little as 60 minutes, after only 4 hours of preincubation.
The project, carried out between June 2025 and June 2026, has focused on developing innovative tools for early, on-site detection of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, thereby contributing to strengthening food safety and improving the industry’s ability to respond to potential microbiological contaminations.
During the project’s development, ITENE has designed and validated next-generation lateral flow strips capable of delivering highly promising preliminary results in agri-food matrices, achieving detection limits of up to 100 CFU/g. These results represent a significant improvement over conventional methodologies, drastically reducing analysis times and promoting their direct application in industrial environments.
Integration of Digital Tools
Moreover, the project has advanced in the integration of digital tools to improve the reliability and traceability of microbiological analyses. Specifically, a portable reading device has been developed together with image analysis software based on fluorescence and colorimetric signals, which enhances objectivity in interpreting results and facilitates the future industrial deployment of the AGROSENS system.
Furthermore, ITENE has developed specific strips for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis, the serotypes most relevant to food safety, maintaining sensitivity levels equivalent to those obtained for Salmonella spp.
“The main challenge of the project has been to develop a solution capable of combining speed, sensitivity, and industrial applicability in a single system. The results obtained demonstrate that it is possible to move toward microbiological control tools that are more agile and reliable, capable of significantly reducing detection times without compromising analytical quality,” emphasizes María José Juárez, project leader at ITENE.
Juárez also stresses that “the integration of digital reading and analysis systems represents an important step toward the deployment of advanced biosensing technologies directly on the plant floor, facilitating rapid decision-making and improving the traceability of results.”
With AGROSENS, ITENE reinforces its commitment to developing innovative technologies aimed at improving the safety, efficiency, and competitiveness of the agri-food sector. The project helps accelerate the detection of microbiological contaminations, reduce risks to public health, and facilitate the deployment of advanced in situ control tools in the food industry.
