During the event, the advances and results of the Iberic-Sensotracing project have been presented, which has developed a monitoring system that allows for more effective detection of Listeria.
June 14, 2025
Castilla y León | Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development
The Meat Technology Station of the Agricultural Technological Institute of Castilla y León (ITACyL), located in Guijuelo (Salamanca), hosted the transfer and dissemination event «Keys to ensure food safety against Listeria monocytogenes,» focused on the advances and results of the Iberic-Sensotracing project.
During the event, experts from the scientific, technical, and institutional fields addressed the importance of implementing innovative microbiological control systems in the meat industry to strengthen food safety throughout the production chain. The event was attended by professionals from the agri-food sector, companies, technicians, quality managers, as well as institutional representatives and specialized media.
Within the framework of the Iberic-Sensotracing project, coordinated by ITACyL, innovative environmental monitoring systems have been developed to more effectively detect the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in industrial environments. These technologies simulate the real conditions of processing environments, offering a more efficient and straightforward alternative to conventional sampling methods.
In addition, progress has been made in the implementation of molecular identification and tracking systems to accurately discriminate between different strains of Listeria monocytogenes, thereby improving prevention and response strategies to outbreaks.
Highlighted Presentations
Among the featured speakers were Begoña Rubio and Jerson Garita, researchers from ITACyL; José Iraburu, CEO of ICB Ibérica; Juan Carlos Villalón, Head of the Food Safety Service of the Health Department of the Castilla y León Regional Government; and Beatriz Merelo, Associate Professor of Food Technology at the University of Burgos. The event concluded with a technical roundtable discussion on the impact of massive sequencing on microbiological diagnostics, applied to both food safety and production sustainability.
The event highlighted the key role of microbiology and emerging technologies in controlling foodborne pathogens, especially in sectors such as the Iberian meat industry, which is of great importance to the economy of Castilla y León.
The Iberic-Sensotracing project is funded through the Rural Development Program (PDR) of Castilla y León, with Feader funds, and is expected to last until June 2025. ITACyL leads this initiative with an investment of over 250,000 euros, reinforcing its commitment to innovation applied to the agri-food sector.