Canadian government invests over CAD 2.4m to support meat processing tech

The Canadian government has announced an investment of over CAD 2.4 million ($1.8 million approx.) in P&P Optica (PPO) through the AgriInnovate programme.

The investment will help P&P Optica to build and present its food inspection technology for meat processors. 

The funds will support PPO in building demonstration units that allow it to present its technology to potential users. The Ontario-based company hopes to help processors improve the safety and quality of their products and reduce food waste.

The system analyses food composition, evaluating properties such as tenderness, freshness, and protein, water and fat content. The technology can detect imperfections and eliminate foreign bodies like plastic, bones and rubber.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said: “Canada’s processors are adopting new technologies to increase production and offer quality products across the country and the world. P&P Optica’s technology gives processors essential information that provides many benefits, including helping to reduce food waste.”

She added: “Our government is committed to investing in innovative projects that support the long-term growth and success of our agriculture and agri-food sector”.

The investment will also go towards building a demonstration room to optimise the technology, for use by potential clients. The hyperspectral imaging tech evaluates the safety and freshness of meat products by analysing the colour and moisture, providing a large amount of data to processors.

Olga Pawluczyk, CEO of P&P Optica, commented: “P&P Optica is grateful for the support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and AgriFood through the AgriInnovate programme. PPO is focused on working with food processors to improve the safety and quality of our food supply while reducing waste.”

Pawluczyk continued: “We’re excited about the opportunity to promote our automated inspection system, which is already operating in plants across the US, to Canadian meat processors. We believe the Canadian meat industry, already a global leader in quality products, can increase our competitive edge even further by using technologies like PPO’s Smart Imaging System.”