19 April 2023 Food Microbiology: the good, the bad and the unknown

Join us as we hear from Professor Stephen On who will share his research insights on the fascinating and complex subject of the microbiology of food.

Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University Excellence Series has been designed to showcase leadership in various disciplines including the opportunity to promote the University’s distinctive and impactful applied research. Professor Stephen On is leading this event discussing the fascinating and complex subject of the microbiology of food.

On the one hand, food may contain one, or even several pathogens that make people ill, and can even kill them. Global estimates of 600 million people each year falling ill from foodborne illness have been made, and this is likely to be an underestimate. The social and financial consequences of this burden of disease are of great significance.

However, there are many foods and beverages that would not exist without the activity of microorganisms. Wine, beer, cider, cheese, yogurt, kombucha, bread, sauerkraut, kimchi and others – depend on the action of fermentative microorganisms for their production. Such organisms may be incorporated into probiotics, aimed at maintaining our health or even used to treat certain conditions. The financial and social benefits of these microbes are therefore also significant.

How do we differentiate the good from the bad? How do we transform an unknown organism into a known one? Can we tell which organism is capable of making an award-winning wine or beer from those that will only result in “plonk”?!

"Join us as we hear from Professor Stephen On who will share his research insights into what progress has been made, where it may lead to, and some of the challenges and indeed dangers that lie ahead."

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