Call for Partners | PPP Cooperative Oil/Fat Authenticity SysTem (COFAST)
Food fraud through oil & fat adulteration is a major problem. The estimated costs of global edible oil fraud are at least 10 billion dollars. Worldwide, about 7% of all oils and fats are estimated to be adulterated. Apart from the huge economic repercussions, severe health risks may be introduced. Our PPP project COFAST aims to further develop and implement a user-friendly Decision Support System (DSS) at partner sites for the on-site screening of oil and fat samples for authenticity, in order to detect and reduce adulteration.
Partner up for impact
We are looking for
This project is part of the current (2026) TKI/LVVN Topsector call, aiming for 50% subsidy and requiring 50% cofinancing from industrial partners.
We are looking for industrial partners:
- Branch organizations for oils and fats
- Companies that produce, refine and/or trade edible oils and fats
- ICT & AI implementation companies
About the project
Our envisioned DSS will include:
- A suitable spectroscopic measurement system;
- an extended database with spectral data;
- validated AI prediction models;
- designated and maintained data platform;
- favorable access to IP.
Already available at WFSR:
- Operational modular spectroscopic UV-VIS/NIR measurement system;
- database including several adulteration scenarios;
- chemometric models.
What will the project bring:
- Updated assessment of industrial requirements;
- implementation of the refined and updated methodology in practice;
- a functional data platform allowing rapid on-site conformity predictions;
- feasibility assessment of cooperative maintenance and improvement of the functional data platform and AI models by:
- post-project running and maintaining of the technology by a neutral trusted partner;
- freely or confidentially sharing data for model training (e.g., federated learning).
The project will deliver an easy to handle, rapid on-site and online screening method for authenticity to detect adulteration in oils and fats.
More about the project
The project will start in Q1 of 2027 and will run for 4 years.
Let's connect
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