Cardiff Met Researchers Awarded £425,000 Funding to Advance Safe Ozone Use in Food Storage
Cardiff Metropolitan University researchers have secured £425,000 in funding to advance the safe application of ozone in food storage facilities. The grant, awarded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) via Innovate UK, aims to boost food safety and significantly reduce waste. The project is led by Dr James Blaxland and involves partnerships with the University of Greenwich and Ozone Industries Ltd.
This initiative builds upon the team’s earlier work developing standards for safe ozone application in food production environments. The new research focuses specifically on storage settings, where maintaining food quality over extended periods presents unique challenges. By reducing microbial contamination and slowing spoilage, the technology could play a key role in extending shelf life across the supply chain.
Ozone, a naturally occurring gas composed of three oxygen atoms, is increasingly recognised as a powerful antimicrobial agent. When applied correctly, it eliminates bacteria, viruses, moulds, and pests without leaving harmful chemical residues. This makes it a promising alternative to traditional sanitisation and preservation methods in the food industry.
“Ozone offers a highly effective, residue-free solution for controlling microbial contamination in food environments,” said Dr Blaxland. “This project allows us to take the next step, ensuring that its application in storage facilities is not only effective but demonstrably safe for consumers, whilst also helping to minimise food losses.”
Unlike conventional chemical treatments, ozone decomposes rapidly back into oxygen, reducing environmental impact and eliminating the need for chemical handling, storage, or disposal. It can also penetrate hard-to-reach areas, providing more comprehensive sanitation compared to surface-only methods. This efficiency supports a safer, more sustainable food system for producers and operators.
Dr Blaxland added: “Our earlier Knowledge Transfer Partnership laid the groundwork for safe ozone use in production facilities themselves.” With Innovate UK’s support, the team can now extend those principles into storage. This approach improves food safety standards while helping the industry tackle the critical issue of food waste.
The project is expected to deliver practical guidelines, risk assessments, and industry-ready standards. These outputs will help food producers and storage operators implement ozone technology with confidence. The ultimate goal is to support a safer, more sustainable food system across the UK.
