Food Safety From Farms To Our Plates

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Interview with Professor Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Food Hygiene and Environmental Health

Maria’s research focuses on bacteria that can grow in our food. Her studies involve especially bacteria transmitted through contaminated meat that can cause human illnesses. This work is depend on collaboration with the food industry and impacts the safety of the food on our plates.

Why is company collaboration important in your field of research?

“If you want to solve problems in my field of research, it has to be done with food businesses” begins Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa. Meat inspection practices have changed more towards a risk-based approach. Rather than focusing on the end product at the retail level, food safety already starts at the farms level. Maria continues, “Everything from animal health and zoonotic diseases to the use of antimicrobial drugs has to be taken into account by veterinarians, as not only do these affect the quality and safety of the meat but also affects the meat inspection practices at the slaughterhouse.”

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Business Collaboration: From Funding To Knowledge And Materials

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Interview with Janne Lundén, Senior Lecturer in Food Control
Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Janne is a University lecturer and researcher in food control. He teaches all matters to do with food control authorities, food control practices and their effectiveness.

Why do you collaborate with companies?

“Well, in the first place, food businesses are the subject of my research so it is very natural to involve them in my studies. However, I also do it to increase the impact of my research results. It is easier to get results into use in society if you collaborate with companies. Moreover, I believe it is important to have discussions with all kinds of stakeholders from the authorities to the industry and get their views and opinions on the subject of our research. This gives us an understanding of the overall picture of where our field is headed, the research needs and leads to new research questions.”

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YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT POSSIBILITIES ARE BEHIND THE DOOR

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Interview with Claudio Oliviero, Adjunct Professor, Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

”In this work, I always appreciated the possibility not only to satisfy my scientific interest but also to make a wider difference”, begins Claudio Oliviero in a meeting room in the Viikki animal hospital. Focused on the physiology of sow (female pig), Dr Oliviero’s research looks at the factors influencing successful birth and the survival of the newly born piglets. “Our work is important for the health and welfare of the animals and for the ensuing production. Today sows are having more piglets than in the past. If the piglets do better and grow well and require less treatment with, for instance, antibiotics, there are economic benefits for the production companies and health benefits for the consumer”, Oliviero explains.

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COMPANIES GIVE YOUR INNOVATION A LIFE!

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Interview with Hannes Lohi, Professor in Molecular Genetics
Department of Veterinary Bioscienes, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Medicine

Dogs share a similar gene and disease heritage with humans with a unique population history and breed structure. They also share the environment and even the same lifestyle as family members. This makes them great models for genetic research because identifying genes for complex diseases is possible from a much smaller collection of samples than in humans.

First in the world, professor Hannes Lohi together with his partners in the Genoscoper company developed a genetic test for dogs analyzing more than a hundred diseases and traits and the genetic structure with just one sample. This innovation opens up possibilities for better understanding of disease mechanisms and for improvements in diagnostic methods for veterinarians, treatments and drug development. Professor Lohi has started and developed numerous spin-off companies and helped find investors for other researchers’ companies as well.

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