December 21, 2020
AAFC is launching a challenge to develop new technologies in the Canadian Meat Processing industry.
The Challenge
The Canadian meat processing (primary and secondary) industries for beef, hog, and poultry is evolving constantly in requirements to ensure safe and efficient work environments for its labour force, and to increase operational efficiencies and maintain food safety standards. Innovation is paramount to support this sector. AAFC is launching a challenge to develop new technologies to meet these evolving industry requirements.
Meat processing plants rely heavily on manual labour, and are challenging environments, cold with high humidity levels to manage effectively. Yet, we rely on these facilities to transform animals into protein for human consumption. Technical innovation provides opportunities to improve the operational efficiency and safety of workers in meat processing facilities where people and machines often interact.
This challenge seeks to support technological innovation within all forms (primary and secondary) of meat(protein) processing facilities that will introduce new automated advances to existing processing formats, regardless of processing plant or abattoir size, while addressing increased safety measures for workers, maintaining food quality levels, as well as abiding by food safety regulations.
Proposed technologies must include advances in automation through robotics, artificial intelligence, or other forms of innovation that are scalable and suitable to each sub-sector within the processing industry, such as stunning, slaughtering; butchering; grading; cutting; and packaging.
Challenge sponsor: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Funding mechanism: Grant
Opening date: December 18, 2020
Closing date: January 13, 2021, 14:00 Eastern Standard Time
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