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Mobile lab
Accredited mobile laboratory for food safety testing in the SADC region
STDF/PPG/765
Start:
14/03/2022
6FFAFBB1-34FA-40E7-8F6A-0F56DEA39B01
Status
Ongoing
FF766E94-8490-4D70-AC75-633A89F5FC4F
Project value (US$)
50,000
24A0AE9C-F305-4C2F-9712-1E1F25761E9D
STDF Contribution (US$)
50,000
Beneficiaries
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
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Implementing entities
South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
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Partners
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The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on food security, food safety, and the importance of adapting food safety systems to respond to supply chain disruptions. Laboratories for food safety testing (e.g. residues and pathogens) for the food production sector are not easily accessible in many parts of Southern Africa. This results in increased expenses to courier samples to laboratories from pack houses, ports, central markets, airports and borders, with the added risk of sample integrity being compromised. Representative samples can often be as much as 20kg per consignment.

The development of mobile laboratories using next generation technologies is a potential solution to address some of these challenges in remote areas. The objective of this PPG is to conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential impact and economic viability of mobile ISO 17025 accredited food safety testing laboratories in the SADC region. The initial focus will be on 4 SADC countries, namely South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.

Beneficiaries
380AA7FE-FF76-4962-A05B-0B7106D0A4E9
Eswatini
Lesotho
Namibia
South Africa
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Partners
380AA7FE-FF76-4962-A05B-0B7106D0A4E9
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Implementing Entities
380AA7FE-FF76-4962-A05B-0B7106D0A4E9
South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
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