FoodOmicsGR_RI includes expert application groups and end-users with deep knowledge of specific food products and large, well-controlled historic sample banks of food products produced in a controlled environment with full historic records (e.g., wine, honey, royal jelly, olive oil, dairy products, Chios mastic, mountain tea, etc.). 

All manipulations were performed by specialised research scientists working under strictly controlled conditions; samples were collected from specific restricted geographical areas, and were treated and stored in the same way.

Sample banks containing honey and royal jelly samples were produced by specialised Apiculture Laboratories in experimental breeds.

Olive oil collection has been built through participation in research projects and national initiatives and covers specific geographical areas, e.g., the islands of Crete and Lesvos, and mainland regions. 

Monocultivar olive oils have been collected after thorough control that ensured universal oil production technology.

In a similar way, monocultivar wines have been collected from collaborating wine makers.

Specialist groups (veterinary scientists) organised milk/dariy products collection from well-known collaborating animal farms from certain geographical regions; detailed reporting of animal feed, animal breed, age was applied along with the application of strict sample collection, transportation and storage protocols. For cheese samples, all production steps, from milk sampling until the cheese making, were monitored by trained scientists and veterinarians.

Regarding animal tissue/DNA samples, our research team has built through various research projects a thorough reference database for several fish species as well as other species like birds and mammals.

Partner laboratories maintain various sample banks of non-genetically modified soybeans cereals, nuts, almonds and other foods. Sample collections extend to several years, to enable the generation of representative profiles. Samples are accompanied by metadata: breed, species, exact geographic location of the farm, farming/feeding modes, and so forth.