Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
Individual-based modelling (IbM) in food microbiology: A comprehensive guideline
Abstract
Individual-based modelling (IbM) presents opportunities to help us understand the dynamics of the food microbial ecosystem. Yet, IbM is generally perceived as a difficult and specialized modelling tool that is not fully fledged for food microbiology-particularly in terms of scalability, computational efficiency, and ease of integration with existing models. This guideline aims to demystify IbM and demonstrate its practical applications in food microbiology. We present a structured 5D protocol (Define, Dissect, Develop, Deploy, and Demonstrate) to guide the design and implementation of IbM. To support practical adoption, we provide a detailed case study that simulates the growth of an E. coli K-12 MG1655 monolayer colony in a homogeneous gel medium under aerobic conditions. A review of existing IbM toolkits is also included to highlight their relevance and application in modelling food-related microbial dynamics.
Source and rights
Published by Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.), 2025. The guideline itself is at the source linked here.
Prognia summarises this guideline for reference and education. It is not medical advice. Always check the official guideline and current local protocols before acting on it.
At a glance
- Published
- 2025
- Applies to
- 🌐 International
- Country of origin
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- Scope
- International
- Journal
- Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)