The quality of fresh agro-products may vary largely among batches. These differences are not always easy to see or measure. However, they are very important for the remaining quality. Management decisions in fresh chains (local or export market - storage or immediate selling - first-expired first-out approach) directly depend on the estimated quality of the batch. By using innovative genomics technology, NSure was able to develop a method to determine exactly the physiological status of a fresh product. The medical sector has discovered the diagnostic potential of genomics several years ago and is using it for establishing complex diagnoses. NSure has adapted the method for use in vegetable produce. This has resulted in a new decision support tool for managers in the agro-food business.
Listen to the genes
NSure assays are based on a new form of molecular diagnostics that makes use of profiling the activity of the genes. The idea behind it is that all biological processes in a living organism, including features as maturation and susceptibility to diseases or physiological disorders, are directed by the genes. Genes can be seen as biological switches controling a large number of physiological and biochemical processes.
NSure reads out this biological switch board. Measurements are taken at the source inside the cells, resulting in higher accuracy compared with measuring secondary effects such as sugars, pH or starch. The method is already being exploited for medical diagnostics for several years and has been adapted for use with agro-products by NSure. NSure is able to develop a test for any crop or fresh plant product.
In the early development of a new assay, our lab-technicians evaluate thousands of genes simultaneously. In the end, we select a set of indicator genes that are most involved in the quality aspect of interest. The resulting assay gives information on the physiological status of the product and an estimation of the remaining quality. This information is translated by NSure into an advice for an optimal downstream chain or into a classification in a quality category.
