The latest research on food safety and quality will come under the spotlight later this year when hundreds of food microbiologists gather in Aberdeen.
Food Micro 2008 will bring together leading scientists from all over the world in a move that will also pump hundreds of thousands of pounds into the local economy.
This is the first time the biennial symposium of the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene has taken place in Scotland.
And the organisers – Mr Iain Ogden, Senior Research Fellow and Dr Norval Strachan, Senior Lecturer, both from the University of Aberdeen – believe it is the local expertise in food microbiology that has lured the prestigious event to the city.
Between four and five hundred delegates are expected to attend the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) for the symposium which takes place between September 1 and 4.
Mr Ogden said: "It is a tremendous coup for Aberdeen to be hosting Food Micro 2008 which is a key event in the food microbiology calendar.
"We are bringing leading speakers from America, Japan, Australia and from across Europe to the event which has the themes of food quality and food safety which are always hot topics."
Areas covered will include methods to control foodborne pathogens such as E. coli O157, listeria, campylobacter and salmonella; the food safety and quality of ready to eat foods and the spoilage and safety of fermented and sea-foods.
Dr Strachan added: "Speakers and papers will cover the very latest thinking on a wide range of food safety and quality issues.
"As well as food microbiologists, we expect Food Micro 2008 to be of interest to local food producers and processors as we also hope to have a session which will specifically target industrial microbiology including Scottish food companies."
For more information about Food Micro 2008 please see: http://www.foodmicro2008.org/