SwissDeCode gets VC cash for food security platform

Swiss biotech SwissDeCode has raised CHF 3.7m ($4.1m) to help develop its real-time certification system for food authenticity and quality.

The new funding – from Singapore’s VisVires New Protein and European food innovation scheme EIT Food – will be used to accelerate the development of SwissDeCode’s rapid on-site food testing and certification platform.

The biotech says it is preparing to launch a fully-automated, rapid DNA screening system called BEAMitup that will perform the same tests as laboratories, including certification, in less time and directly at the point of need.

The cash injection comes after SwissDeCode secured a €2.5m ($3m) grant from the EU Innovation Council last year.

The platform can be used for a range of applications such as detecting pork in beef meat – which may result from fraud – detecting the presence of pathogens like Listeria in cheese products, and spotting milk adulteration.

It combines a digital microfluidics platform that slots into the production line with DNA testing that can be placed into facilities for automated testing, and doesn’t need to be carried out by technical personnel, with results ready in 30 minutes.

That represents a time saving for food companies who currently have to wait for labs to analyse their samples, a process which can take up to seven days, sometime leading to delays, recalls and food waste, according to the company.

“Our solution will deliver a user experience equivalent to making an espresso coffee, and a certificate equivalent to those issued by laboratories,” said SwissDeCode’s chief executive and co-founder Brij Sahi.