SPORE
"Storage Protection of Food Through Volatile Organics Recognition."
The overall objective of the project is to advance the technology readiness level of volatile organic compound (VOC)-based detection of mold growth in food storage systems and support the development of cost-effective sensor solutions for real-time monitoring of mold. SPORE focuses on improving early detection of mold growth in stored plant-based foods using VOC monitoring. It addresses key challenges related to food safety, quality preservation, and the reduction of food waste in bulk storage systems.
⌐ The project has been granted 3.991.430 DKK in funding.
⌐ The project starts on 1 March 2026 and will end on 31 December 2027.
Introducing the SPORE project
Background for the project:
Plant-based foods are commonly stored in large quantities to ensure a stable year-round supply. However, such storage systems carry a significant risk of financial losses and food waste due to mold growth, and, in some cases, the production of mycotoxins that pose serious food safety risks. Existing detection methods, such as temperature monitoring, are limited in their ability to identify early-stage mold activity, particularly when mold growth is spatially confined or when metabolic heat production is minimal. A method based on VOCs emitted by mold represents a promising alternative to conventional detection techniques, but its application remains limited due to variability across substrates and species, as well as challenges related to analytical sensitivity.
The activities
The project will start by identifying VOC fingerprints at trace concentration levels across a range of plant-based foods, including grains, nuts, coffee, and fresh fruit and vegetables, using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). We will investigate the interactions between different food substrates, mold species, mycotoxin production, and VOC release, with the aim of identifying key VOC markers relevant for early mold detection in industrial settings. In addition, the dynamic release of these VOC markers during mold development will be monitored using proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). The project will also include participation in in situstudies at commercial companies across Denmark and collaboration with Danish and international partners.
Outcomes
The project is expected to generate a comprehensive dataset of substrate-dependent VOC profiles, providing insight into how plant matrix composition influences VOC emission across different substrate–mold combinations. In addition, the project will identify and validate VOC biomarkers for early detection of mold growth, with the potential to distinguish between mycotoxin-producing and non-producing strains and, where possible, relate VOCs to actual mycotoxin production. The project will further validate the VOC detection performance under realistic storage conditions and in pilot-scale systems, enabling translation from academia to industrial applications. Finally, the project will ensure effective knowledge transfer through scientific publications, methodological protocols, and collaboration with industry partners, supporting the development of practical solutions and future innovation in mold detection technologies.