Food Safety, Environment and Genetics plays a leading role in ensuring food safety in Iceland and strengthening competition in the international context. The division carries out this role by providing monitoring and safety services in chemical and microbial testing for the government and by bolstering research and evaluation of the main risks posed by harmful substances and microbes in food products and the environment. Additionally, the division's goals are to be leading in genetics in Iceland and develop analytical methodology for stocks and their origins to improve resource management, stock and traceability analysis.
The division's emphases fall into four categories: chemical testing, microbial testing, risk assessment and genetics. Chemical and microbial testing gathers data on undesirable substances, nutrients and microbes in food products. Testing is also done on substances and microbes in the environment. Testing and monitoring of microbes increases consumer safety and protects the image of Icelandic products; also these tests utilize the newest and best analytical technology. These projects are performed in cooperation with domestic and foreign food producers, institutions, universities, government and those involved in providing services to the food industry.
The division's risk assessment involves participating in development and formulation in this area in Europe. One part of the work is participation in the Qalibra Framework, which is a web environment for collecting data on the risk of and gain from consuming food products. The division is also involved in the development of databases on Icelandic foods for consumers and companies.
Furthermore, the division's research in genetics is among the best in the field, and the division operates a certified genetics laboratory. Genetic engineering is applied to studies on aquaculture, but the division also provides its customers with pedigree services utilized, for example, in breeding horses and dogs.
The division's work in genetic engineering is aimed at both developing methods to find answers on genetic factors and finding ways to utilize genetic engineering for continued development in the broadest sense.
Research groups:
Director:
Anna Kristin Danielsdottir
Research group leaders:
Helga Gunnlaugsdottir - Chemicals & Risk assessment
Viggo Thor Marteinsson - Microbiology & Risk assessment
Operations:
Matís Headquarters, Reykjavík
