EXCEL4MED supported a dynamic three-day training school, held on 30 June – 2 July 2025 in Athens (Greece), focused on the critical role of date marking in food safety and waste reduction.
Organised by our coordinator, the Laboratory of Food Chemistry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with the International Committee of Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), the training brought together researchers, teaching staff, students and industry professionals.
The event was also supported by our sister project, FunShield4Med.
The training school explored how scientific knowledge and predictive modelling tools can be applied to improve date marking practices, helping food businesses extend shelf life, reduce waste and enhance product safety.
Learning by doing: project-based challenges
Participants engaged in theoretical lectures covering:
The fundamentals of predictive microbiology
EFSA’s scientific opinion on date marking
ISO/TC 34/SC 9/WG 19 guidelines for challenge tests
These sessions laid the foundation for understanding the scientific reasoning behind determining “best before” and “use by” dates in food products.
Beyond the lectures, the school offered hands-on group work using computer modelling tools to solve real-world problems. MSc, PhD students, and post-doc researchers worked in teams to design predictive models and propose solutions for complex food safety scenarios.
Through this interactive approach, participants learned to:
Apply empirical and theoretical modelling
Use relevant software for shelf-life prediction
Explore the broader implications of predictive modelling in food systems
The training strengthened not only their technical competencies, but also their communication and problem-solving skills.
A shared commitment to safer, more sustainable food
Supporting this training aligns closely with EXCEL4MED’s mission to boost innovation and sustainability in Mediterranean food supply chains.
In particular, the training complements our efforts to reduce food waste by extending product shelf life through informed, science-based decision-making.
By participating in and supporting such initiatives, EXCEL4MED continues to contribute to a food system that is safer, smarter and more sustainable, for producers, consumers and the environment alike.
