DEMOTOX · A new device to detect quickly and friendly Ochratoxin A and other myco-toxins in feed, food and beverage

Objective of this proposal, called DEMOTOX, is to prove the viability of results obtained as outcome of the OTASENS Project, which was funded within the program “Research for SMEs; FP7–SME–2008–1, Grant Agreement No. 232245. The results obtained in the OTASENS Project offer a potential economic advantage to the partners, because they give them possibility to develop a simple, innovative device, portable, sensitive, to detect ochratoxin A (OTA) and other mycotoxins. Therefore, the SMEs leading DEMOTOX are committed to taking the laboratory prototypes developed in OTASENS to a commercial product, a simple system able to signal presence of myco-toxins in food, feed, beverage, over the law limits. Preliminary information show that the system developed in OTASENS has great market potential; a short market analysis is anticipated both from the point of view of the instrumentation of analysis required and of the sectors interested in the field of food and feed safety. A well- developed market strategy, based on business case and business plan, will be carried out during this Project in order to launch the innovative product into the international market. Manufacturing of this innovative device will allow the participating SMEs of the DEMOTOX Consortium to become more competitive; moreover, taking into account that the RTD Performers in OTASENS will be partners in this Project, success of the Demonstration activity in the DEMOTOX Proposal will enhance links between SMEs and R&D group through a strong campaign of training and dissemination. Two detection strategies, one based on chromatographic measurements and the other based on immunoassays will be produced to allow screening of a large number of samples in a short time and indicate which of them are contaminated. At least 20 devices will be produced for the demonstration tests and a “round-robin” procedure will be used to compare results from different users, selected among the sectors of potential market.