Innovation

Digital transformation relies on smart sensor data and human inputs

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 09:39:44 -0400

Without sensor data, you can’t control a process—much less begin a digital transformation at your facility. KPIs (Key performance indicators) are a way to measure how your process, packaging or even your palletizing areas are performing, but to get these KPIs requires sensor data.

Oatly transitions North American production facilities to 100% renewable electricity for 2021

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:24:55 -0400

Oatly Group AB announced that for 2021 its two North American production facilities, located in Millville, N.J., and Ogden, Utah, sourced 100% renewable electricity for the first time.

BioBetter extracts growth factors for scaled cultivated meat production from tobacco plants

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 07:35:49 -0400

FoodTech start-up, BioBetter, Ltd., has assigned a new role for the much-maligned Nicotiana tabacum plant upon discovering it can overcome the greatest hurdle in cultured meat—that of scaled production.

Food and AgTech trends that are shaping the future of food

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0400

S2G Ventures, a multi-stage investment firm focused on the food, agriculture, ocean and seafood markets, reveals 10 food and AgTech trends that will shape the future of food in 2022.

The doughnut store that is a shop floor

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

From its early beginnings, the Krispy Kreme company has designed and built the proprietary machines that have given “rise” to their equally safeguarded doughnut recipe.

Your window to the process: Clear view or obstructed?

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Chances are, you’ve probably been using the same HMI, MES or SCADA program for some time in your operation, and you’ve been through several version upgrades too. Providers of these products work hard to make their software backward compatible with equipment and operating systems as well as create new features users want.

Dot Foods acquires Morsum, an AI/ML food platform technology company

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 14:36:00 -0500

Dot Foods, Inc., said to be North America’s largest food industry redistributor, has acquired Morsum, a food industry data and AI platform technology company.

Visual inspection system helps ensure brand quality for distillery that makes spirits from milk

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:05:10 -0500

Canada-based Dairy Distillery, a spirits producer that combines artisanal distilling techniques with a scientific process to transform milk into vodka, is using Pleora Technologies’ visual inspection system to help maintain brand quality standards and reduce errors that increase operating costs and slow production.

Carbon dioxide chiller provides ample cold for dairy and replaces propane heat for hot water

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0500

With this carbon dioxide chiller installed at a dairy, not only does it cool the milk better, it also provides heat for washing equipment.

Meat Institute, FMI announce 2022 Leaders of Tomorrow program winners

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:43:00 -0500

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute, NAMI) and FMI—The Food Industry Association announced ten winners for the 2022 Leaders of Tomorrow Program.

New polypropylene film designed for lamination

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 13:57:00 -0500

Innovia Films latest development is Propacast KF a clear cast polypropylene film that has been specifically designed as a lamination solution for HFFS, VFFS and lidding applications.

Three steps to more efficient cooking

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 11:50:00 -0500

Over-cooking caused by temperature variation across the belt is a challenge for food manufacturers due to its detrimental impact on yield and product quality. The latest industrial cooking technology has the potential to transform the mass production of roasted, breaded and smoked products.

How to use automated material transfer effectively

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We wanted to learn more about automating material transfer and what food processors need to know to use it most effectively. Here, we sit down with Forrester to find out how food processors can assess their material transfer system and determine if automation is right for them.

Processors face higher commodity prices, but climate-smart technologies may help tame cost increases

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:07:00 -0500

The USDA says 2022 will be a great year for agriculture, and climate-smart farming practices can help.

The case for track and trace

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Current supply chain woes have made nearly every aspect of processing an ongoing guessing game, from forecasting ingredient availability to ensuring finished foods arrive at their destinations on time. One way to help make sense of the situation is to invest in track-and-trace technology that can monitor every step of a product’s journey.

CULT Food Science completes strategic investment into leading cell-based chocolate producer California Cultured

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 10:49:24 -0500

CULT Food Science Corp. has diversified its cell-based food portfolio via an investment into cultured chocolate manufacturer, California Cultured Inc., Davis, Calif. The company uses cell culture technology to produce cocoa products like cocoa powder, chocolate and cocoa butter with the goal of creating sustainable and ethical chocolate for consumption around the world.

Bavarian brewery testing a method to upcycle protein from spent brewers’ grains

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 09:15:00 -0500

Spent brewers’ grains not only provide a source of energy for a brewery, but can also provide a salable, high-value protein.

Tech tools to help processors make sense of today’s supply chain

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

While we hope the COVID-19 pandemic is fading into the background, we still need to be concerned with labor shortages, transportation interruptions, political issues, weather extremes, and other peripheral circumstances that can still break critical links in the supply chain.

Sustainable lidding film for soft fruit

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Heat seal coating specialist Sappi Rockwell Solutions has launched a recyclable, lightweight, heat seal lidding film designed for the fresh produce market.

Increasing use in intelligent packing of fruits and vegetables to drive PBAT market

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period 2021 to 2031 with an end value of $2 billion, according to a report by Transparent Market Research. Fruit and vegetable intelligent packaging using PBAT-based biodegradable mulch films is used to reduce food waste. The films provide increased oxygen and water vapor transfer rates in fruit and vegetable bags.

Log4j vulnerability: New IT/OT threat with lots of dangerous potential everywhere

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

: Just when IT and OT professionals were feeling a little more comfortable in preventing and tackling ransomware/malware attacks, now they have something new to worry about—and potentially just as insidious—the Log4j vulnerability.

Application software: Updates, connections and design considerations

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 16:43:00 -0500

With software upgrades, users should not have to relearn what they already know--and user interfaces need to be constructed with the end user in mind.

Plenty appoints agritech veteran Arama Kukutai to chief executive officer

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:20:00 -0500

Kukutai has been an investor in Plenty and a part of Plenty’s Board of Directors since September 2016. Prior to his work with Plenty and Finistere, Kukutai served as executive chairman of PKW Farms, a successfully diversified investment entity involved in dairy farming and aquaculture activities in New Zealand, Asia and Australia.

Forever Oceans signs deal with Brazilian Government for offshore concession for sustainable seafood production

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 09:14:00 -0500

In Brazil, the company will ocean-raise Forever Oceans Amberjack, known locally as ‘Olho de Boi’ or Remeiro. This versatile finfish is praised for its taste, protein, nutrition and is rich in Omega-3.

6 trends shaping consumer product innovation in F&B

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Tate & Lyle PLC, a global provider of food and beverage solutions and ingredients, revealed six key trends that are shaping consumer product innovation in the food and beverage market.

Dawn Foods reveals their flavor trend predictions for 2022

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Read up on the bits and pieces of flavor trends and product innovation in this installment of Nuts & Bolts

The protein system transformation

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

It’s no surprise that alternative meat products are popping up everywhere these days. In fact, they have grown so much that Ernst & Young data predicts alternative meat could see 40% market share by volume by 2040 in the United States.

Novel “raslysation” technique works with non-clear/opaque liquids

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

UV sterilization technology works successfully in water treatment plants and HVAC systems, but milk and juices too?

New for 2022

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

A new year and new opportunities are in motion for the industry, after a (sometimes) bumpy but successful 2021.

Make water conservation a part of your business

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The United Nations estimates that the global demand for water will increase 20% to 30% by 2050 to meet the food needs of a projected population of 9.8 billion.