Ph.D of Victoire Le Cozic (2024 - 2027)

Future demographic and environmental challenges are prompting people to explore new alternatives. Plant products and the use of insects are now recognized as potential alternatives to animal products. However, the measures already implemented to control the microbiological quality of conventional foodstuffs have not been developed for plant and insect-based protein substitutes. The transposition of conventional analytical methods is not adapted to the control of these emerging hazards. Indeed, for the insect matrix, limitations have been demonstrated in the detection of pathogens and spoilage agents, due to the richness and variability of their microbial flora, and these matrices may give rise to new hazards not detected by the targeted methods used. Vegetable alternatives, on the other hand, can significantly increase exposure to already known hazards, both through their high consumption and through the implementation of new processing methods. The aim of this thesis project is therefore to characterize the bacterial diversity of these food alternatives, in particular insects and plant products, to assess the effectiveness of microbiological control methods, and to develop them with a view to future regulations and the relevant quality controls to be implemented.  Innovative methods such as metagenomics and quantitative PCR will be used to complement conventional cultivation methods. The results of this project will provide valuable scientific support for the development of agri-food industries, while meeting the growing needs of consumers in search of new, safe and sustainable protein sources.