Prof. Andreja Rajkovic from Ghent University will represent Imptox at this year’s Congress of the South African Association for Food Science and Technology.

Taking place in Cape Town from August 28th to 30th 2023, the 25th Congress of the South African Association for Food Science and Technology will focus in particular on “Future Foods: Smarter and More Sustainable Solutions”. With this topic, the organizers hope to incentivize researchers to explore more sustainable solutions in providing “healthy food that is safe, affordable and delicious”. Congress 2023 will bring together scientists, scholars, and students from various universities and the food industry, to present or exhibit ongoing research activities and foster research relationships.

Against the backdrop of cutting-edge science, Prof. Rajkovic is gearing up to hold a plenary talk on “Microplastics - Potential Playground for Foodborne and Waterborne Pathogens”.  The talk will take place on Tuesday, August 29th, at 8.30am local time. In his presentation, Prof. Rajkovic will delve deeper into his research on the potential of microplastics to act as carriers for pathogenic bacteria, possibly threatening microbial food safety. 

If you happen to be in South Africa during the time of this congress, don’t miss the opportunity to connect with our Imptox researcher and exchange new ideas with delegates from all over the world. Andreja Rajkovic is Professor in Microbial Safety at the University of Ghent, Belgium, and President of the ICFMH (International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene). In Imptox, he and his research team at Ghent University are evaluating the impact of MNPs as vectors for potentially toxic material adsorbed to their surface, including metals, allergens, toxins and microorganisms.