How Vincenzo Fiore used the Food Safety Skills Fund
My name is Vincenzo Fiore, a PhD student with the University College Dublin and Teagasc Food Research, based at the Food Safety Department, Moorepark, Co. Cork.
My research focuses on the presence of Bacillus cereus sensu lato in dairy powder plants. My project, “Controlling Bacillus spores in dairy powders: factors affecting behaviour during processing conditions”, conducted in collaboration with Triona O’Brien, Francis Butler, Geraldine Duffy, and Enda Cummins, investigates the critical stages at which this spore-forming pathogen can persist and examines how processing conditions influence its survival.
Over the past 3 years, I have tracked how spore-forming bacteria behave during skim milk powder production across the Irish lactation season. While total bacterial counts in raw milk were higher during the pasture months, heat-resistant bacteria were more prevalent during the indoor season. Thermophilic spores increased during processing in the concentration step, but the final skim milk powder consistently maintained low microbial levels, including B. cereus. So far, we have highlighted that thermal processing is effective, yet persistent spores pose challenges.
I applied for the Food Safety Skills Fund programme to broaden my international exposure, connect with global experts, and attend the IDF World Dairy Summit (WDS) an opportunity that would otherwise be difficult to access due to limited funding for such events.
Experience from the trip
The summit in Santiago, Chile, was a unique chance to present my project to an international audience and to network with experts from both academia and industry. Several sessions stood out, particularly those highlighting Codex Alimentarius as a global anchor for cooperation and guidance in food safety systems. The Danish case study on aflatoxin prevention was especially inspiring, showing how collaboration across the feed–food chain can reduce hazards and build trust.
Industry and academic participants expressed strong interest in my project, agreeing with my conclusion that more frequent cleaning during high-yield seasons is necessary to control spore persistence. Beyond the sessions, the technical tour offered valuable insights. CeTA, Chile’s public-private food innovation hub, like Teagasc in Ireland, operates pilot plants nationwide to accelerate sustainable product development and strengthen Chile’s ambition to become a global leader in healthy, innovative foods.
Impact and learnings
My key takeaways from the summit were:
- Codex as a global anchor for food safety cooperation.
- The importance of data-driven decision making in dairy plants.
- The value of collaboration across the food system to address hazards collectively internationally.
The trip broadened my perspective on sustainability, from the use of heat pumps and dairy effluents for energy production to the resilience strategies needed to face climate change. I was struck by the emphasis on community not only in its social relevance but also in the potential of data sharing and collective decision-making. These lessons reinforced the importance of collective preventive approaches in food safety.
Broader impact and next steps
I see opportunities for collaboration with South American researchers and industry contacts, also, I look forward connecting with Safefood alumni. Bursaries like this are a bridge for students in Ireland, allowing us to be seen internationally as local experts in food safety and to build networks that strengthen our career prospects. For others considering applying, I would advise focusing on the networking and international exposure these opportunities provide. They are invaluable for professional growth and for understanding the global realities of food safety.
The World Dairy Summit was both professionally and personally enriching. It offered a friendly environment to meet people with diverse perspectives, while also exposing me to realities of the dairy sector that I would not otherwise encounter. From academia to industry to consultancy, the breadth of engagement was remarkable.
I would strongly recommend the Food Safety Skills Fund to other food safety professionals, as it provides not only funding but also a gateway to international collaboration and knowledge-sharing that strengthens food safety across Ireland and beyond.
