Integrating elemental and isotopic analysis for wheat authentication and traceability

Wheat is a strategic crop in the global food system, as it is one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide and serves as a primary source of calories and nutrients for a large portion of the global population. Due to its economic and nutritional importance, ensuring the authenticity and traceability of wheat throughout the supply chain is becoming increasingly important, not only for food safety and consumer protection, but also to prevent fraud, ensure product quality, and promote sustainable agricultural practices [1]. Moreover, in a context of growing global trade and complex supply chains, the ability to verify the geographical origin and production practices of wheat is essential to support fair competition, reinforce labeling systems, and comply with international food standards. This study aims to evaluate the application of integrated chemical-analytical techniques for the discrimination and authentication of wheat samples, emphasizing their potential to enhance quality, safety, traceability, and transparency across the entire supply chain. Samples of Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (durum wheat) and Triticum aestivum L. (soft wheat) were characterised for mineral nutrient composition, the presence of toxic and potentially toxic elements, and stable isotope ratios. In parallel, stable isotope ratio analyses were conducted to investigate variations in isotopic composition associated with the chemical-physical fractionation of elements. The results suggest that integrating multiple chemical-analytical techniques is essential to establish a comprehensive profile in terms of authenticity and geographic traceability. This combined approach provides detailed insights into nutrients and contaminant levels, as well as natural isotopic signatures, ultimately contributing to greater transparency, increased consumer trust, and the valorisation of high-quality wheat products in global markets. Acknowledgment: This work was funded by AGRITECH “National Research Centre for Agricultural Technologies” which received funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU, under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) – Mission 4 “Education and Research”, Component 2 “From Research to Business”, Investment 1.4: Strengthening research structures and supporting the creation of “national R&D leaders” on key enabling technologies —CN00000022 (D.D. 1032 17/06/2022) This work was supported by METROFOOD-IT, which received funding from the European Union - NextGenerationEU, under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) - Mission 4 “Education and Research”, Component 2 “From Research to Business”, Investment 3.1: Fund for the realisation of an integrated system of research and innovation infrastructures—IR0000033 (MD Prot. n. 120 of June 21, 2022). References: [1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, FAO, Rome (2021), available at https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/csdb/en/