This week, BIOR hosted the participants of the 80th NMKL Annual Meeting, bringing together food analysis experts from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

During two days of practical working sessions, the experts addressed current issues in food analysis, discussed the latest developments in laboratory testing, examined analytical methods and their practical applications, and shared their experience while exploring solutions to common challenges in the field.

The meeting’s working groups focused on three key areas of food analysis: chemistry, microbiology and sensory analysis. Participants also had the opportunity to visit BIOR’s laboratories and learn more about the Institute’s research and laboratory testing infrastructure, as well as the day-to-day work of its experts.

The Nordic-Baltic Committee on Food Analysis (NMKL) is an international network of experts established in 1947, bringing together food analysis specialists from the Nordic and Baltic countries. Experts from the Baltic countries joined NMKL in 2022.

NMKL’s main objective is to develop and improve reliable analytical methods and procedures for food and feed, promote cooperation and knowledge exchange among laboratories, and support the use of scientifically sound analytical methods that are fit for practical application.

NMKL also serves as an important platform for sharing knowledge and experience among public and private laboratories, research institutes and food safety authorities. The organisation regularly organises seminars, courses and practical working sessions, while the methods developed by NMKL are used in food analysis practice beyond the Nordic and Baltic region as well.

The 80th NMKL Annual Meeting took place at BIOR in Riga from 13 to 15 September, bringing together food analysis experts from eight Nordic and Baltic countries.