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Tracciabilità geografica: un approccio metodologico per prodotti enologici
No full textI concetti di qualità e tracciabilità alimentare ricoprono un ruolo primario nella società, principalmente a causa dei recenti casi che hanno minacciato l'autenticità e la sicurezza di alcuni prodotti. Le produzioni enologiche, per le loro caratteristiche e la vasta diffusione, necessitano di interventi per la protezione, valorizzazione e innovazione, da cui possono trarre opportunità di crescita. Poiché la qualità del vino è strettamente legata al concetto di terroir (storia, origine, metodi e materie prime tradizionali), il legame tra alimento e territorio di origine può rappresentare un valore aggiunto. Quindi, la definizione di criteri oggettivi per la tracciabilità geografica dei vini, con particolare attenzione per prodotti a denominazione (DOP, IGP, ecc.), può rappresentare una svolta innovativa. Il progetto di ricerca di cui fa parte questo lavoro è finalizzato allo sviluppo di modelli di tracciabilità geografica e opera con una duplice strategia: da una parte l'investigazione estesa di vini commerciali e matrici territoriali e dall'altra uno studio pilota per chiarire alcuni punti critici. In particolare, i seguenti aspetti sono stati presi in considerazione: 1) l'identificazione degli indicatori adatti, 2) l'ottimizzazione di metodologie analitiche per la loro determinazione, 3) lo studio del comportamento degli indicatori in relazione alle diverse fonti di variabilità (suolo, uptake della pianta, processo produttivo) e 4) la pianificazione di un campionamento rappresentativo per tutte le matrici.
In questa tesi, un approccio basato sulla sinergia tra metodi analitici e analisi multivariata è stato utilizzato per studiare alcuni degli aspetti sopra citati, al fine di ottenere informazioni sul sistema analizzato.
In particolare, è stato fatto uno screening dei terreni mediante diffrazione a raggi X e tecniche chemiometriche, per valutare in modo semplice e veloce la variabilità inter e intra sito, considerando l'influenza della profondità e del periodo di prelievo, ottenendo così indicazioni sulla procedura di campionamento (profondità e periodo, numero e posizione dei campioni all'interno dei campi).
In seguito, il rapporto isotopico 87Sr/86Sr è stato scelto tra gli indicatori analitici di tracciabilità e valutato in diverse matrici della filiera enologica. Il rapporto isotopico dello stronzio varia in base all'età delle rocce, all'iniziale rapporto Rb/Sr e al tempo trascorso, risultando quindi correlato alle caratteristiche geologiche del territorio. Inoltre, lo stronzio è coinvolto nel metabolismo delle piante e risulta assorbito senza effetti di frazionamento sul rapporto isotopico. Per questo, il rapporto isotopico dello stronzio dovrebbe mantenersi costante dal terreno alla pianta e infine nell'alimento. D'altro canto, diversi fattori (assorbimento della pianta, processo produttivo, contaminazioni antropiche o naturali) potrebbero influenzare l'indicatore e dovrebbero quindi essere considerati.
Un ICP/MS multicollettore ad alta risoluzione è stato utilizzato per determinare il rapporto isotopico 87Sr/86Sr in diverse matrici (terreno – tralci – succhi) al fine di monitorare la variabilità dell'indicatore nel terreno e verificare la sua efficacia. Inoltre, grandi sforzi sono stati fatti nel razionalizzare gli aspetti legati all'assorbimento di elementi da parte della vite e, di conseguenza, determinare il rapporto isotopico nella frazione biodisponibile di stronzio. I risultati ottenuti evidenziano una buona corrispondenza tra i valori di rapporto isotopico misurati nelle frazioni di terreno, mimanti la parte biodisponibile, e i rispettivi succhi per quasi tutte le aree investigate. La correlazione con l'alimento migliora significativamente considerando i valori ottenuti per i tralci.Nowadays, food quality and traceability play a primary role in the society mainly due to several episodes that threatened the authenticity and safety of foodstuffs. The oenological productions, owing to their peculiarities and global worldwide diffusion, show the greatest need for protection, valorization and innovation measures and could have the best growing opportunity. Since the quality of wine is in many cases related to the concept of terroir (history, geographical origin, typical raw materials, methods...), the possibility to assess the link between territory of origin and the food could represent a peculiar added value, useful for the enhancement of the product itself. Hence, the definition of objective criteria for the geographical traceability of wine, with particular attention to those awarded with quality marks such as PDO, PGI, etc., could represent a real challenging task.
The main research project, which this thesis belong to, is focused on the development of geographical traceability models and operates with a twofold strategies: on one hand an extensive investigation is carried out on commercial wines and territorial matrices, and on the other hand a pilot study was started to clarify some critical points. In particular, the following aspects were taken into consideration: 1) identification of the suitable indicators, 2) optimization of the analytical methodologies for their determination, 3) study of their behavior with respect to soil variability, plant uptake and winemaking chain influence and 4) planning of a representative sampling for soils and food.
In this thesis, an approach based on the synergy between analytical methods and multivariate data analysis, was used to investigate some of the above mentioned aspects, in order to obtain information about the analyzed system.
In particular, to obtain more detailed information on the soil sampling procedure, in terms of inter and intra site variability, sampling depth and seasonal variability, a fast screening approach by means of X-ray powder diffraction and multivariate spectra analysis on the soils was carried out.
After that, the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio was selected among the primary traceability indicators and evaluated in several matrices of the oenological chain. Sr isotopic ratio varies according to the age of the rocks, the initial Rb/Sr value and the elapsed time, thus being related to the geological characteristics of the territory. Moreover, Strontium is involved in metabolic processes and should be absorbed by plant with no fractionation effects on the isotopic signature. Owing to these peculiarities, the 87Sr/86Sr should maintain the same value passing from soil to plant up to the bottled wine. However, several factors, related to anthropic or natural contaminations, plant uptake, making procedures, could affect the isotopic relative abundance and should be considered when investigating the transition from soil to wine. A Multi Collector ICP/MS was used to determine the 87Sr/86Sr in different matrices, soil – branch – grape juice – wine, to monitor the variability of the indicator verifying its effectiveness. Moreover, great effort was paid to rationalize the aspects related to the element uptake of the vine plant and, as a consequence, to determine the Sr isotopic ratio on the bioavailable Sr fraction.
The results highlight a good match between the isotopic values monitored in the soil fractions mimicking the bio-available part and their respective grape juices for almost all the investigated geographical areas. The correlation with food matrices satisfyingly improves when the isotopic values of vine branches are considered
Heavy isotopes
No full textBefore to start writing this contribute on the use of “heavy elements isotope ratio” for food
traceability purposes, let us to underline our though about this nowadays important topic. In fact, it
is fairly common to closely link the use of isotope ratios parameters, either of light or bio elements
and heavy ones, as tools against food counterfeiting. Furthermore, it is worth to highlight how these
indicators tackled rather successfully this task. Nevertheless, another important aspect, largely
lacking (or neglected), needs to be considered. Indeed, geographical traceability of food should be
considered as an opportunity to increase food quality. The objective possibility to link the food to
its production territory (its “terroir”) represents an opportunity of growth for both the producers and
the consumers
NEW TRACKING AND TRACING PERSPECTIVES FOR THE OENOLOGICAL CHAIN VALORISATION
No full textThe present work is part of a wide research project focused on the development of authenticity and geographical traceability models of wines, in particular Lambrusco wines, which are one of the main typical products of the Modena district. The analytical approach takes into account tools able to give information characterized by an high accuracy and precision as well as multivariate chemometrics techniques aimed to: i) plan a systematic and representative sampling (both for soils and food), ii) optimize the analytical methods used for the determination of the investigated parameters and iii) develop robust traceability models. In particular, in this study, an innovative approach based on the synergistic use of the experimental design technique, DoE, and principal component analysis, PCA, were used to plain a representative soil samples. Finally, the 87Sr/86Sr ratio has been monitored in a set of representative soils and grape-juices samples in order to verify and establish a link between the soils and the investigated wine based products focused on objective traceability indicator
ENHANCING CONSUMER QUALITY PERCEPTION TOWARDS PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN PRODUCTS BY GEOGRAPHICAL TRACEABILITY: THE CASE OF BOLOGNA POTATOES PDO
No full textThe development of analytical methodologies able to confirm/determinate the geographic origin of food is becoming an increasingly dynamic area in authenticity as well as traceability context.
The globalization of agri-food system led to the spread of different varieties of food and raw materials around the world but sometimes also to a loss in their quality. Therefore, geographical origin of food often became synonymous of quality and safety and its authentication remains an important goal for producers and consumers too.
Aim of this study is to develop a geographical traceability model for a typical food of Bologna district, namely the Bologna PDO potatoes. The product obtained the designation of origin in 2009 and according to the respective European Regulation [1], its production can be obtained from a variety, ‘Primura’, grown in soils of Bologna district. In particular, in this study, among the different geographical indicators, strontium isotopic ratio, 87Sr/86Sr, has been used, given to its tracer potentialities able to link a food to its territory of origin [2]. Thanks to the collaboration with the Consortium of the potato producers of Emilia Romagna (ASSOPA), within a project funded by Emilia Romagna region [3], samples of potato tubers of two varieties (‘Agata’ and ‘Primura’), harvested in 2012, and soils (0–20 cm depht) were collected in different cultivated areas of Emilia Romagna. In particular, three different geological substrates soils were considered: "Alluvional Plain of the Appennine Rivers" (Bologna, Ravenna), "Po Plain" and "Coastal Plain" (Ferrara). All sampling sites were chosen on the basis of productivity and availability of the farmer criteria.
87Sr/86Sr values in potatoes and soils samples have been determined by using a double focusing magnetic sector multicollector. The isotopic values obtained for potatoes perfectly matched with their respective soils in almost all the cases. Furthermore, the used indicator was able to discriminate samples coming from lowlands and the Emilia Romagna’s coast. Nevertheless, more work is needed, such as the careful understanding of the impact of agricultural practices (e.g. conditions of use of fertilizers and of irrigation water) and the validation of model with the analysis of samples coming outside the Bologna district
Characterization of lambrusco wines by means of Sr isotope ratio as provenance marker
No full textRecently, geographical origin and authenticity of food are topics of great interest for consumers as well as for producers in the food industry. Furthermore, in the oenological field, these concepts are strictly tied with the quality of food. For different reasons, people are more focused towards food characterized by a well-established geographical origin. In the course of time, the symbiosis of
quality and the geographical origin of products is certainly related to ethics of the producers and the whole determines the reputation of the territory. The present research is part of a project dealing with the development of authenticity and geographical traceability models of Italian wines, with particular reference on Lambrusco wines, which are one of the main typical products of the Modena district. Among the different indicators used for traceability studies, 87Sr, and in particular the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio (I.R.), has provided excellent results for different types of food matrices. Aim of this work is to obtain a reliable fingerprint for Lambrusco
wine on the basis of its 87Sr/86Sr isotopic value, linking it to its territory of provenance. Moreover, different analytical methods for the elimination of matrix interferences, before the Sr/Rb separation on resin, are also tested. In particular, the first method, widely used in literature, consists of the following step: i) ethanol elimination by means of HNO3 addition and ii) sample digestion through microwave assisted in acidic media. While, the second one merely consists in the addition of an aliquot of HNO3. Finally, as a preliminary study, wine samples were pre-treated according to the best procedure and 87Sr/86Sr measurements were accomplished
with an high resolution multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-MC-ICP-MS). The isotopic data of wines were compared with the isotopic range of Modena soils, with the aim to determine a correlation between soil and food, obtaining promising results as far as the potentiality of 87Sr/86Sr as geographical tracer is concerned. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report developing an easy analytical methodology for the pretreatment of the studied matrix, obtaining high precision and accuracy measurements, in terms of repeatability, reproducibility and time variability of the monitored indicator
Application of data fusion techniques to direct geographical traceability indicators
No full textA hierarchical data fusion approach has been developed proposing multivariate curve resolution (MCR) as a variable reduction tool.
The case study presented concerns the characterization of soil samples of the Modena District. It was performed in order to understand, at a pilot study stage, the geographical variability of the zone prior to planning a representative soils sampling to derive geographical traceability models for Lambrusco Wines. Soils samples were collected from four producers of Lambrusco Wines, located in in-plane and hill areas. Depending on the extension of the sampled fields the number of points collected varies from three to five and, for each point, five depth levels were considered.
The different data blocks consisted of X-ray powder diffraction (XRDP) spectra, metals concentrations relative to thirty-four elements and the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic abundance ratio, a very promising geographical traceability marker.
A multi steps data fusion strategy has been adopted. Firstly, the metals concentrations dataset was weighted and concatenated with the values of strontium isotopic ratio and compressed. The resolved components described common patterns of variation of metals content and strontium isotopic ratio. The X-ray powder spectra profiles were resolved in three main components that can be referred to calcite, quartz and clays contributions. Then, a high-level data fusion approach was applied by combining the components arising from the previous data sets.
The results show interesting links among the different components arising from XRDP, the metals pattern and to which of these 87Sr/86Sr Isotopic Ratio variation is closer. The combined information allowed capturing the variability of the analyzed soil samples
HR-NMR studies for the characterization of DOC Lambrusco wines of Modena
No full textNMR spectroscopy is currently recognized as an important tool in food science and analysis for the authentication and quality control of foodstuff. The wine area is definitely one of those in which the NMR has proved most successful in recent years. High-resolution techniques were rather powerful tools for studying minor components of oenological products. Classical studies on oenological products are normally based on composition data obtained by various analytical techniques, however, since the quality and characteristics of a product are not the simple sum of individual chemical characteristics, NMR analysis with chemometric data analysis certainly is a useful tool in this regard. Over the past few years, many works based on proton NMR coupled with multivariate data analysis were been conducted concerning the study of the usability of HR-NMR as fingerprint analysis tool in oenology. Between them in particular different authors have proved the validity to use this technique as an indirect indicator of geographical traceability and demonstrated that HR-NMR is an extremely powerful method for the study of oenological product and wine in particular (Brescia et al., 2002; Viggiani and Castiglione, 2008). In this context, the present work, which is part of the extensive research project AGER (Agroalimentare e Ricerca: New analytical methodologies for geographical and varietal traceability of oenological products), aimed to use the HR-NMR techniques as molecular fingerprints in order to serve as indirect indicators of authenticity and quality control of several DOC Lambrusco wines of Modena (Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce and Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro) provided by local producers joined to the research project AGER. The data obtained were coupled with chemometric analysis tools to effectively interpret the complex results collected from mono and bi-dimensional spectra (HR-1H-NMR, 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C HMBC) acquired
Application of strontium isotopic analysis to the promotion of the Vignola sweet cherry PGI
Full text linkThe perceived quality of a food commodity may critically depend on the food origin, when regional traditions about the same food production are well-known [1]. This is certainly the case of Vignola Sweet Cherry, which is covered by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The development of a territoriality model for Vignola Sweet Cherry PGI by means of analytical indicators hence represent a very intriguing task, useful for the promotion of the product itself.
In the framework of the pilot project “Ciliegia-UNIMORE2014”, we have assessed the effectiveness of the isotope ratio 87Sr/86Sr as direct traceability indicator, since this indicator have already provided excellent results in similar studies. [2].
Thanks to the collaboration of single producers and to the Association of sweet cherry, plum and typical fruit of Vignola, we have monitored the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in soils, branches and sweet cherry fruits of 3 producing fields, as well as in 100 fruit samples belonging to 20 different cultivars and coming from ten municipalities of the region of production. For a more complete characterization of the cherries, the concentration of 10 metals (major and trace constituents) and the polyphenols content have been determined
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