On March 20th, 2026, we held the workshop “Innovative Biosensors for Water Monitoring”, bringing together experts, technology developers, regulatory specialists, and water treatment companies from across the sector.
It was an enriching session that opened the door to great discussions and collaborative insights.
🔬 BIOSENSEI Project Overview
Prof. Alan O’Brian (Tyndall National Institute), coordinator of the BIOSENSEI project, introduced the project’s objectives and the development of microorganism-based biosensors for water quality monitoring.
Participants collaborated on a virtual board, highlighting strengths such as the multidisciplinary nature of the team and the high sensitivity of the biosensor for emerging pollutants. Technical questions—like sensor cost—also sparked a constructive debate.
✅ Safe & Sustainable by Design (SSbD)
Dr. Petra Hogervorst (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, RIVM) provided a clear and practical overview of sustainability and safety considerations for GMO‑based biosensors, including how SSbD strategies are being implemented in the project.
Among the comments shared on the digital board were ideas such as applying packaging and encapsulation standards, exploring certification like IP64, and considering autoclaving and reusing sensors as a sustainable approach.
🧬 Living Sensors for Biointelligent Water Monitoring
Dr. Enrique Asin (Wageningen University & Research, WUR) delivered a highly informative talk on the capabilities of GMOs in biosensing.
Participants discussed their relevance for detecting emerging pollutants such as PFAS, applications in sectors like the pharmaceutical industry, and the importance of proper certification frameworks.
💧 Understanding the Updated Water Framework Directive (2026)
Alan Castello (Cork County Council, CCC) presented the implications of the updated directive, including an expanded list of pollutants and stronger monitoring obligations.
These new requirements represent an opportunity for BIOSENSEI, as innovative devices will be essential to address future monitoring needs.
🤝 Collaboration Across Projects
We also heard from the MOVILEs and AQUABIOSENS projects, which were presented as part of the same funding call.
Looking forward to continuing this collaborative journey toward safer and more sustainable water monitoring technologies! 💧✨
