A hi-tech firm has won an international award for devising a trailblazing instrument that tests food safety.

ToxiMet, based at Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, scooped the Innovation Award at the International Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Barcelona for its pioneering ToxiQuant system.

The instrment was developed to measure mycotoxins that are produced by fungi and estimated to contaminate around 25% of crops worldwide. Some mycotoxins cause cancer and in high doses can be fatal. They are also responsible for up to 60% of food imports rejected at European borders. The instrument was launched in May 2012, and has since been sold in many countries worldwide.

The INC (International Nut & Dried Fruit Council) was founded in 1983 and represents the industry worldwide, including brokers, importers/exporters, laboratories, manufacturers, packers, processors, producers and trade organisations. The INC awards celebrate excellence and innovation.

Prof Coker accepted the prize to applause from an audience of 1,100 spanning 65 countries. He said it represented an incredible achievement by the ToxiMet team, and a huge endorsement of its technology: “This is an incredible achievement by the ToxiMet team, and a huge endorsement of our technology. Such recognition at this stage of the company’s development is invaluable. Testing for toxins is vital throughout the food supply chain. Until now, the accurate testing of food has been expensive and required the services of highly qualified technicians.

“We’ve changed that by producing an instrument which measures very low levels of toxin, with a high level of accuracy and has been designed to be used by non-scientists. We believe that food should be safe for everyone in the world and we’re working hard to make that possible.”

James Speck, site director at Kent Science Park, said: “To win an International Innovation award is an exceptional achievement and highlights some of the ground-breaking work taking place right here in Kent. It is an honour to have such world-leading experts working at Kent Science Park”.