ICONSS Project – Creating Innovative Customer-Oriented Safe Solutions

The INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, leads the Innovative Consumer OrieNted Safe Solutions (ICONSS) European project that aims to develop an integrated solution targeting consumers and food operators.

The consortium is composed by 5 partners: INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, ISPA – National Research Council Institute of Sciences of Food Production, FOCOS – Food Consulting Strategically, MILCOOP and SGS and will target two main groups: consumers and food retailers, both connected through a smartphone application or an internet platform, with two user profiles: consumer and food retailer with different permissions, user access to specific data, resources.

This integrated solution will consist of two modules: the first one, an app that will look at nutritional aspects for vulnerable population groups and allow to assemble a food box from retailers ready to be picked up or for home delivery, to minimize exposure in indoor environments, particularly for vulnerable people. The second module, also connected to this unique app, will be a miniaturised device for fast, reliable and easy to use testing of workers and surfaces in order to ensure the safety in food-related environments, with special emphasis on retailer spaces.

This miniaturised kit and device will include sampling, a simplified RNA extraction and isothermal amplification and detection, ready to be used on decentralised settings with minimum interaction from users, and giving a simple and easy to read answer. The device is being adapted and integrated with a simplified sampling and RNA extraction protocol to be implemented and used on-site at retailer shops to test workers and surfaces for SARS-CoV-2. This will allow retailers and other final users to activate reinforced cleaning procedures and quarantine measures.

More information about the project can be found here.

Consumer behaviour survey

As part of this European research project (ICONSS), funded by EIT Food, we are conducting a study to understand how purchasing behaviour in the food sector and attitudes towards the food retail sector have changed due to the pandemic caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

To this end, we ask you to take a few minutes of your time to participate in the survey. We have created the questionnaire in four languages. Please choose from the options on the left.

Your contribution is important. Thank you!