Food: ENEA tests technology for traceability of Italian rice

Ensuring the origin and quality of Italian rice with fast, accurate and non-destructive field analyses is one of the outcomes of the project METROFOOD-IT, funded by the PNRR, whose purpose is to provide new tools for producers and consumers.

“The study analysed ten samples of Carnaroli cultivar from as many different Italian ^[1], grown with different cultivation techniques. The results obtained show that the techniques applied in the field are an effective tool for identifying types of rice of the same variety and could be useful for learning about the area and cultivation methods” explained Claudia Zoani, coordinator of METROFOOD-IT, researcher at ENEA’s Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Division and co-author of the study together with colleagues from the ENEA Laboratory of Diagnostics and Metrology, coordinated by Antonia Lai.

Using a special analysis technique, ENEA researchers obtained detailed molecular information for each grain ^[2], creating a kind of ‘identity card’ by collecting as many as 45 light spectra ^[3]

for each sample, equivalent to ‘photographs’ of their chemical composition. The data acquired were processed using advanced statistical methods that allowed the samples to be differentiated into two main groups based on seeding methodology (buried or in water). These groups, although showing partial overlap, clearly demonstrated the model's ability to detect differences in cultivation methods through subtle chemical variations.

Rice cultivation in Italy is widespread mainly in Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia, largely following the course of the Po River. Its quality is significantly influenced by the geographical cultivation area, thanks to the unique characteristics of the natural environment, including soil and water quality. In Italy, rice is subject to strict supply chain control, to ensure and certify its origin.

Among the various technologies available for these purposes is Raman spectroscopy, which ENEA researchers employed for this study. This state-of-the-art technique uses the interaction between light and molecules to identify chemical composition, distinguish similar materials and even trace origin and production methods through nondestructive analyses. Another advantage offered by this technology is the ability to perform rapid analysis without the need for special manipulation or pretreatment of samples, providing remarkable spectral resolution (3 cm-¹). Due to these characteristics, Raman spectroscopy is employed in many sectors ranging from the chemical industry to medicine and cultural heritage, and finds useful applications even in the food sector for the analysis of authenticity, quality and traceability of products.

“The results obtained encourage us to continue with further classifications of rice based on different aspects like type, cultivation area, soil management and fertilization. These studies significantly enhance the reputation of Italian rice, highlighting it globally and paving the way for similar technologies for traceability and quality control in other agricultural supply chains” concluded Claudia Zoani.