In its decision adopted on 19.06.18, PRIA gave the green light to the second phase of the Dairy Cluster project for development of biosensor for early discovery of mastitis.
In 2017, Dairy Cluster commissioned the development of technical platform for biosensor system that allows determining three common pathogens causing mastitis in the milk with 20 minutes. The second phase of the development work in MAVAS project aims at preparation of device that can be used in farms.
MAVAS project involves comparison of the results gained from using biosensor with accredited laboratory methodologies, optimisation of measuring methods in various farms, preparation of biosensor prototype and test equipment for performing analyses in farms, and determination of quantitative content of pathogens in mastitis-affected milk. The selection of microbes causing clinical and hidden mastitis is defined on a farm-by-farm basis while considering the pathogen distribution patterns, determined by prototype sensor devices placed in farms in the framework of the project. Such sensors also allow optimisation of the structure of test equipment and give feedback concerning its ease of use under actual operating conditions.
In the course of the project, it is intended to widen the selection of pathogens identified by the biosensor.
MAVAS project is implemented by Dairy Cluster, companies Kaiu LT OÜ and Kuivajõe Farmer OÜ and scientific partners TorroSen OÜ and Estonian University of Life Sciences. Works are scheduled from September 2018 to August 2022. Project constitutes a part of Dairy Cluster coordinated cross-border cooperation with Finnish ÄLYREHU working group. This is the first instance of cross-border cooperation between working groups of European Innovation Partnership.
The activities of Estonian Dairy Cluster are supported under measures 16.1 and 16.2 of the Estonian Rural Development Plan 2014–2020.