Abstract for: System Dynamics: A Complementary Tool for Predictive Microbiology

One of the most important concerns for food industry is safety. Predictive Microbiology is the application of mathematical models to describe microbial behavior in order to prevent food spoilage as well as food-borne illness. Because of complexity of microbial behavior and food systems, Predictive Microbiology presents some limitations. System Dynamics could be a useful alternative and complementary tool to model and predict microbiological behavior in foods while providing a graphical interface and structures linked with a series of equations, to clarify and improve quantitative Predictive Microbiology descriptions.