Simulating Biological Systems Group
Vision & Mission SimBioSys
What do we do? Physics-based simulations and sensing of transport processes in plant-based food systems and the human body (Running projects)
Why we do this? To reduce food loss in postharvest supply chains, individualize drug delivery systems, and design sustainable drying processes by understanding and steering these systems in-silico
How do we do this?
- Pioneering mechanistic modeling at multiple scales
- Bridging the virtual to the real world by multi-parameter sensing
- Creating digital twins that can live together with their real-world counterpart
Who are we? An interdisciplinary team of mechanical, biomedical and agricultural engineers, food scientists and environmental scientists.
Where are we at Empa? We are part of the Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles in Empa's Research Focal Area Health and Performance
Teaching & Outreach
Course @ ETH Zurich on Simulations and Sensors in Agri-Food Supply Chains (full course, MSc, 3 ECTS credits)
Coordinating Empa's Multiphysics Hub (intranet - external page), including the Multiphysics Channel (on YouTube)
Sustainable development goals
Group Leader SimBioSys
thijs.defraeye@empa.ch
+41 58 765 4790
Press release. Fighting Food Waste, Economic Insecurity, and Climate Change Through Virtual Cold Chain Application
Press release. A digital twin for citrus fruits, Avatar against food waste
Press release. Personalized medicine, The simulated patient
Empa Quarterly article. CHARCOAL COOLING BLANKET FOR FRUIT AND VEGGIE STORAGE
Press release.Low tech solutions, Charcoal cooling blanket for fruit and veggie storage
Press release. Reducing food insecurity in Nigeria
Press release. YourVCCA Launches Interactive Map to Identify Cold Room Locations
Press release. Your Virtual Cold Chain Assistant & Factsheet
Shrivastava, C., Berry, T., Cronje, P., Schudel, S., Defraeye, T. (2022), Digital twins enable the quantification of the trade-offs in maintaining citrus quality and marketability in the refrigerated supply chain. Nat Food, DOI
Shoji K., Evangelista R., Gajardo J., Motmans T, Defraeye T. (2022), Increasing accessibility and usability of open-source data through a web map for better decision-making in India's cold chain of fresh produce, preprint DOI.
Schudel S., Shrivastava C., Onwude D., Defraeye T. (2022), Solution roadmap to reduce food loss along your postharvest supply chain from farm to retail. engrXiv. preprint - submitted.