The Anfaco-Cecopesca research center and the company Emenasa Industria have presented this Wednesday the results of a joint project that involves the implementation of a pioneer system hyperspectral technology for food control.
It is about the use of chemical images to determine quality, nutritional components, textures, etc. of food in real time, as it passes through the production chains.
In this project, which was put into operation in 2016, 19 people have participated and it has had a budget about 4 million euros.
The results have already been tested in 14 companies that manufacture products such as canned tuna, mussels or sardines, potatoes, cookies, turbot, etc. Among the collaborating firms are Nueva Pescanova, Isabel, Bolton Group, Covap, AtunLo, Patatas Meleiro or Mascato.
As explained by the general secretary of Anfaco, Roberto Alonso, this system is pioneer in Spainand it has only been used in the salmon industry in Norway.
Likewise, Alonso has highlighted the commitment of the food sector Galician by this technology that, although it has a very low degree of maturation, has great potential.
Technology
Within the framework of this project, work has been done on various lines of investigation: the industrialization of technology, the development of ‘software’ to facilitate the management and use of the cameras that take the images, and the study and application in different food matrices.
The images hyperspectral They allow parameters such as food texture, moisture, fat, sugars, proteins, starch, and other components and characteristics to be determined in real time.
His main advantage is that, until now, there is no online food quality measurement system on the market with a specific sensor that allows quick access and without contact with food.
Differentiation
The First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Industry and Innovation, Francisco Conde, has participated in the presentation of these results, at the headquarters of Emenasa Industry in Vigo, and has stressed that Galicia has an opportunity in terms of innovation to differentiate itself and develop projects that leave an industrial footprint.
In this regard, Conde has pointed to two key elementssuch as public-private collaboration, with the Administration acting as a bridge and collaboration between companies and knowledge centers, as in this case, through a mixed research unit (UMI).
The collaboration of Anfaco-Cecopesca with Emenasa in this UMI has a aid from the Xunta of 1.15 million euros, for a total investment of 3.8 million euros.