CIED & NGSENSORS BAGS THE GRANT FROM S3FOOD FOR AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION

Thanks to the grant from the European S3FOOD, 14 new agri-food innovation projects will be launched using smart sensor technology. Two of these projects come from the Netherlands, including a great collaborative project from CIED and NGSensors.

Digital innovation is an important building block for the more sustainable, smarter and  valuable production of food. Incorporating innovation into the agri-food industry will save money or meet a new need in an ever-changing world.

As we all strive for a more sustainable future, smart farming practices are speeding up agricultural innovation. S3FOOD is a European-based funding organization dedicated to promoting sustainable farming practices in the continent. The organization intends to provide support for 14 new agricultural innovation initiatives. One of them was the latest detection technology developed by CIED and NGS, which will enable companies to identify unwanted substances early in the food chain.  

Conquering Imaginations Expectations and Dreams with NGSensors

This year, 14 programs received funding from S3FOOD, CIED and Next Generation Sensors are one among them. Both the companies are working together on a new detection method for the agri-food chain.

Together with Next Generation Sensors, CIED is on a journey to build a mass spectrometry-based portable diagnostic device. While we develop the software to detect elements such as carbon, magnesium, iron, and other trace elements in food molecules, NGS, on the other hand, is working on building a hardware that can detect, quantify, and record pollutants and other undesirable substances in products like milk, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables.

The two companies are working on a new detection technology that will enable companies to identify unwanted substances early in the food chain. Consider antibiotics in seafood, for example. By monitoring the seafood in real time and with 100 percent accuracy, tainted batches can be withdrawn from the chain in a timely manner. As a result, far less seafood would be wasted than is actually the case. Furthermore, businesses are not required to conduct additional analyses. As a result, the equipment used leads to a more sustainable way of processing food, resulting in less waste and cost savings.

How the Software Works?

The Peaks Algorithm is used to compare the variety of molecules present in the food to the expected level of molecules in the food. The app with sensor will first scan the jar before inserting any food particles. The initial scan is known as the blank scan. This experiment is carried out to see if the container contains any particles. After the initial step is finished, the food particle will be added to the container.

The sensor then aids in the detection of different quantities of particles in the food, such as carbon, magnesium, iron, and other trace elements. It will then be compared to a database that contains the normal amount of particles that must be present in food. A graph will be drawn between the normal level of particle number and the observed level of particle number. As a result, we may be able to detect elevated particle levels even before the food is processed.

The Dashboard is built in such a way that each product’s outcome is easily accessible. The outcome can also be shared with others through a dashboard. The app is currently integrated with a single device, but there are plans to extend it to several devices in the future.

 S3FOOD for You

S3FOOD is a consortium of 13 agri-food and high-tech cluster organizations from eight European countries. It helps food producers in Europe digitize their production processes. S3FOOD focuses on the use of smart sensor technologies by SMEs in the food and agriculture industry. Consortia of entrepreneurs and high-tech experts collaborate to digitize the manufacturing process.

S3FOOD also organizes company visits in Europe, webinars for information sharing, and matchmaking sessions to help SMEs find the best partners for their digitization processes in addition to offering subsidies.

On May 4, 2021, the consortium awarded 1.3 million euros to 14 new projects as part of the S3FOOD call. The number is decided by the theme of the invention and the stage of development in which it is currently located. There are a total of 28 small businesses involved in these ventures. Subsidies are provided in amounts ranging from 15,000 to 180,000 euros.

Check S3FOOD’s website to know more.

https://s3food.eu/