Food safety is of paramount importance in a world where the demand for food is increasing rapidly due to a growing population. Food deemed unsafe for consumption poses a hazard to human health, as a result, food production companies responsible for hazardous outbreaks can suffer devastating consequences. There is a need for technology that can effectively monitor food safety and the environment in which food is grown to ensure that it is safe for consumption.

Contamination of food and drinking water is a significant source of disease transmission around the world. As demand for food rises along with the increasing global population, so does the need for efficient and affordable methods for food and environmental monitoring that are suitable for use in both developed as well as developing countries. Continuous monitoring of food safety parameters is essential to ensure that food products reaching consumers are of high quality and fit to eat, as well as for helping to reduce food waste. Environmental monitoring ensures the quality of water, soil, weather, and livestock involved in food production as well as the cleanliness of drinking water. Moreover, environmental monitoring can reduce environmental pollution and help fight climate change. 

Researchers at the University of Bath working in collaboration with industrial partner, Integrated Graphene, have developed a new sensing technique based on graphene foam for the detection of glucose levels in the blood. Since it is a chemical sensor instead of being enzyme-based, the new technology is robust, has a long shelf-life and can be tuned to detect lower glucose concentrations than current systems.

At Integrated Graphene, we have invented and patented a revolutionary design for manufacture process to produce high-performing and commercially viable pure 3D Graphene Foam directly onto desired substrate, in seconds. This means we can have an open production method to customise Gii-Sens® for specific designs and demand.