Double TeamDangerous Tramp Metals www.foodtechnology.co.nz 25 FUTURE BARCODING A Canadian technology that identifies a substance by scanning it could become a crucial tool to capture DNA data in food to protect consumers. DNA barcoding, developed by Professor Paul Herbert at the University of Guelph uses genetic variations to identify different species. Like something once only seen in futuristic space movies, the technology is similar to how supermarket check-outs scan variations in UPC barcode lines to identify a product being purchased by customers. A team of International Barcode of Life network researchers have built a library of DNA barcodes from expert-identified reference specimens over more than 10 years, creating barcodes for more than 500,000 species so far. These barcodes can already identify foreign biological material and contaminants in food, and developers say it is just a taste of what is to come. Herbert says that today, this technology is used to identify individual specimens, and by 2167, the human race will not only be able to identify single specimens of almost every animal, plant and microorganism on the planet, but will routinely identify individual species among millions of organisms in large and varied samples…virtually instantaneously, anywhere, rather than sending samples to a lab. Tracking key indicators such as invasive alien, at-risk or toxin-producing species and disease vectors will help the world respond sooner. “The better understanding of a healthy ecosystem that we gain will also help us to assess remedies and promote biodiversity that functional, healthy ecosystems need,” Herbert says. The benefits DNA barcoding affords natural habitats can equally aid agriculture and forestry in pest control. Currently, land managers place sticky traps in greenhouses, farm fields and forests to catch insects in an effort to detect pests, send captured insects to a lab to be visually identified, and then tailor pesticide applications accordingly. But this approach takes time and expertise, which doesn’t work well at a large scale, and can be difficult to use. “In another 150 years, advancements in barcoding will enable us to monitor the air, soil and water to determine what organisms are where, and how a community is changing,” Herbert says. Early and precise detection of changes will not only help with pest control, but also ensure that the earth sustains pollinators such as bees, natural predators of pests and other species required for healthy farms and forests. DNA barcoding will be an everyday part of our lives, Herbert says, enabling the world to better respond to its environment. Rare Earth MAGNETIC SEPARATORS 61-3-8401-7400 • www.Eriez.com Teaming an Eriez Xtreme® Metal Detector with powerful RE7 Magnets provides the greatest protection against dangerous, unwanted metals in your product or process flow. Removes Steel, Stainless, Copper & Aluminium Removes Steel RE7 Performance Testing Download now from our website! DoubleTeamAdRev-NZFT.qxp_Layout 1 2/16/17 4:28 PM Page 1 FT340 FOREIGN MATTER DETECTION
FT-Jul17-eMag-1
To see the actual publication please follow the link above