Multi-criteria evaluation and decision support methods

In order to identify and evaluate risk control levers that contribute to the “healthy and sustainable” challenge of food systems and thus anticipate and better manage the risks associated with current transitions, it is necessary to use multi-criteria approaches that encompass the dimensions of food (nutrition, microbiology, and chemistry) as well as environmental and economic aspects, in order to provide insight for decision-makers and inform consumer choices. It is in this context that several SECALIM projects are being carried out. SECALIM is notably in charge of WP3 of the ANR BIFORES project. In this WP, multi-criteria and decision support techniques are used to identify new infant formulae offering the greatest health benefits at the lowest environmental cost, without compromising safety (microbial risk as low as possible). A multi-criteria analysis is also used to select legume-based products based on health, nutritional, sustainability, and consumer acceptability criteria as part of the TRANSLAG project. These studies belong to theme 2: Assess the safety risk.

Theses supervised on this topic:

Kousseila Tigrine is currently working on her thesis as part of the BIFORES project, which aims to design new PPNs (nPPNs) by combining microfiltration and minimal heat treatment with fermentation, using a multidisciplinary approach to maximize health benefits and reduce microbiological risks and environmental impact. 

Rodney Feliciano's thesis, defended in 2023, focused on the construction of a Quantitative Assessment of Microbiological Exposure model that takes into account the effects of climate change and the environmental impact of processes in the dairy processing industry. This project was part of the European ITN-PROTECT project.