IITAA
IITAA (Institute for Investigation and Technology of Agronomy and Environment) is very much engaged and has the know how to pursuit studies on insular climate characterization / prediction and effects of global change on communities from the open ocean to the islands tops, modernize agriculture ... Read more »
MISSION
Most of the industrial enterprises in the Azores work in the food production area. CITA-A has always been available both for technical and scientific consultation and for problem-oriented research. Since food safety is, at present, the most pressing problem in these enterprises, most of the cooperation work involves this aspect. One of such examples was an investigation on Salmonella and Listeria prevalence in poultry products. CITA-A has also participated in risk analysis studies for food enterprises of the Azores.
Aims:
- To study the biodiversity and quality of traditional foods
- Preserve the microbial biodiversity of traditional foods
- Contribute to the improvement of quality and safety in traditional foods
- Studies of microflora in Azorean wheat sourdoughs and cheeses.
- Study of biochemical changes during maturation of a traditional cheese (Pico cheese).
- Consumer preferences in relation to maturation parameters in Pico cheeses.
To characterize of toxicological and microbiological risks in the food chain
- Study of incidence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in broilers in the Azores.
- Perform research the bioactive compounds in foods
- Study of the impact of soils in macro- and micro-nutrients content in grapes and wines.
- Research on the phenolics and antioxidants present in wines and honeys produced locally (Azores) in comparison with the same products produced in Portugal mainland.
- To investigate potentially useful compounds from microorganisms in extreme environments
- Study the microbial biodiversity in Azorean lava tubes (preliminary research).
