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Welcome to the UK food automation academic and industrial groups site
This brings together professionals from food manufacturing, academia, research institutes and automation suppliers, with the goal of increasing the engineering research and development infrastructures within the sector and to promote best practice, whilst fostering advanced engineering in automation procedures.
- Visit our News section or subscribe to our RSS feeds( with conjuction with any RSS reader software)
- or copy our upcoming Events into your diary
- or register for free to gain access to the Proceedings from the previous meetings including Leeds meeting
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Aims
- To promote world class research in the field and establish a strong UK engineering research community in this sector, including the Food Automation Centre sponsored by Yorkshire Forward
- To establish a focus for food automation research expertise and research facilities
- To maintain a comprehensive network that links academic researchers with those in the food-manufacturing and equipment providers and others with an interest in food automation
- To provide a forum that encourages collaborative research, the formulation of interdisciplinary research proposals, technology transfer and which promotes staff/student mobility between academia and industry
- To form an authoritative group of experts willing to inform Government and Research Councils on strategic trends in research directions
- To stimulate and promote high level training courses
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UK Cross-Government Strategy for Food Research
Anonymous writes "UK Cross-Government Strategy for Food Research and Innovation
A very condensed summary of a long document
Summary: Food is inherently complex and multifaceted and the research and innovation reflects this complexity. Research and innovation are essential to meet the goals in Food 2030 and the pressures in the food system set to happen in future decades. Proposed are
- Food security research programme will be co-ordinated by BBSRC
- Technology Strategy Board Innovation Platform will fund innovative R&D in waste reduction and management and greenhouse gas reduction. £90m over 5 years
- EU funding including ERA nets should be exploited
- BBRSC Advanced Training partnership scheme (Masters, PhD & CDP)
- Development of new indicators for research collaboration, innovation and skills
Aims
Large diverse industry, many disciplines needed of which engineering is underpinning discipline,Fig 1, p 7
Goals
Resilient food businesses with first class R&D
Low carbon food system & efficient food chain
Waste reused recycled or to energy generation
Continuous improvement in food safety
Investment in science and technology
Challenges
Food demand increases 50% by 2030 for 8.3billion people
45% increase in energy demand in 2030
Largest use of freshwater
UK Food system
7% of GDP, employs 3.7million people
Responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas
Every household wastes £480pa, equivalent to increasing production by 66% in volume
R&D needs to be well integrated, new science exploited & research needs of food industry communicated to the research community. In agriculture mechanical innovations has a long lag of about 15 to 25 years
UK Research Funding
BBSRC has discontinuity in manufacture, responsibility of EPSRC responsible for fundamental engineering which has implications for food manufacturing and processing, Defra has responsibility production not agriculture. Scottish programme is recipe for success.
BBSRC is developing a cross-funder roadmap for research priorities, ESRC??SMEs??, NERC for water
TSBnew products and services based on technology food processing and waste, technology development product introduction and good practice.
Technology and process engineering is a strength, p22
Funding
Government funding was £415m for food research in FY08/09. This includes the Food and Environment Research Agency. Private sector is about 6900 food processing companies but research spend is low 0.24%. The 21 largest UK food producers spend 1.4% of sales on R&D, dominated by one large company. The Gatsby Charitable Foundation supports relevant plant science
Cross government initiatives include Energy - new BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre £27m., Food Security and the Ageing population.
Business Support has passed to the TSB Sustainable Agriculture & Food Innovation Platform with £90m over 5 years and the Biosciences Technology Area supports system modelling,sustainable processes for the production of food, materials and energy production.
The industry club model establishes a joint collaborative programme with industry and the research councils to support innovative research projects within academia that address generic, pre-competitive research challenges facing club members Defra LINK has been closed but a stand alone LINK sponsored by BBSRC promotes exploitation of research for the benefit of industry. The Knowledge Transfer Partnership to tackle specific industry problems.
Scottish Food and Drink has launched a tender for an innovation hub based in Aberdeen
European Union
Framework 7 provides Euro 32.4 billion in 10 themes. Food Agriculture and Biotechnology 1.9Beuro. The UK is currently involved in the development of EU Joint programme on Food Security.
UK China Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network has an overall aim of contributing to a resource efficient, low carbon economy and an environmentally friendly society.
Defra Horizon Scanning and Futures Team covers food research and innovation at monthly club meetings.
Research challenges
The past 20 years have had a step increase in information technology and computers. Grand challenges will be long-term and high risk/reward
Themes
Economic resilience sustainability depends on an efficient business throughout the production and supply chain
Resource efficiency includes measures on waste, energy consumption, renewable energy usage and GHG emissions and food transport. Evaluation of environmental impact links in achieving a reduced carbon footprint including understanding the drivers of decisions by producers and consumers
Green house gases new technologies, management systems and management tools
Waste - Post harvest technologies to reduce crop storage losses, use of commercial food waste in chemical and other industries.
Energy - new technologies and management systems to reduce overall energy consumption in primary production, food processing and retail.
Water - Reduce water usage through new technologies, practices in food production and tools for evaluation of the water footprint in primary production.
Nutrients fertilisers need phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and iron.
Food safety - reduction of the incidence of key foodborne pathogens (Campylobacter and Listeria) and management of risks emerging climate change, innovative technology increasing shelf-life, analytical methods, improving and implementing proportionate, evidence-based controls for the whole supply chain. Microbiologica safety of Food Funders Group co-ordinates R&D on emerging pathogens
Trade offs
Removal of misshapes increases the environmental impact of the food chain.
Early and improved engagement of emerging technologies is important
Aim a co-ordinated approach - funders working in isolation risk developing a partial evidence base, missing key perspectives and lead to unintended consequences.
Stronger & coherent evidence base
Buy-in and exploitation of research
Address research gaps and avoid overlaps
Improve horizon scanning
Tackle interface issues
Efficient use of overall resources
Build integrated community of researchers & share views
Identify opportunities for infrastructure & capacity in the UK
Minimise unnecessary administration
Platform for closer collaboration with the private sector
Maximise global impact of the research
Multi partner programme on Food Security
A major new multi-partner food security research programme is being developed delivered jointly with other Research Councils and government departments involving close engagement with industry and the third sector and provide multi-disciplinary research.
Principles
Joined up
Long term science priorities
Focus on outputs
Pragmatic can-do approach
Broad perspectives including natural, physical and social sciences
Set up a network of food research focal points within each funder
Government Food Research Group - RCs, devolved admins Secretariat GO Science BBSRC Defra and FSA engage with research providers, funders and users
Public/private Food Research Partnership aims to
Provide a high level forum to promote cross-sector dialogue
A challenge and sounding board function
Forge links between members organisations
Promote international co-operation
Key activities
TSB Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform
Food research partnership to exploit ERA
High level UK forum
International platform
Skills capacity
Key resource the diverse range of providers in research and education has decreased significantly in recent years
Skills shortages include food quality, processing and manufacture and agricultural engineering, mathematical and computer sciences
Need to attract and train the next generation of researchers
Upskill the existing workforce
Negative perceptions of the industry
Limited opportunties for researchers in HEIs
Translation of research
Food research is relevant to manufacturing & UK business strength used to exploit technology.
Need to engage SMEs to engage directly with research services, companies and industry representatives
More sector led research, co-funding and efficient translation
Processing is an area of Applied research p54
End users include food processors, retailers, suppliers of equipment and machinery
Need close links between agricultural colleges and Universities
Key actions
Government co-ordination
Investment in high level skills
Advanced Training Partnerships Master, PhD and CPD
Better translation of research
Assess potential market failure - balanced score card
Common metrics for measuring skills and innovation
Food Research Group to implement strategy in 1 year & complete by March 2011
Funders
Defra remit - Sustainable low carbon and resource efficient patterns of production £66.9m
EPSRC - Engineering research includes machinery, automation food waste or recycling and food sensors p64 ££3.5
EU Food for Life technology platform
NERC Rural economy
Scotland RERAD has Food & Drink policy June 2008
TSB Food Innovation Platform, high value manufacturing Information and communication technology
Competing pressures
Embedded carbon in food is higher than in packaging so smarter packaging reducing waste may have net benefits
Full report url is: http://www.dius.gov.uk/~/media/publications/GO-Science/UK-Cross-Government-Food-Research-Strategy
...
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Posted by admin on Friday, March 05 @ 12:27:31 CET (9 reads)
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Food 2030 - a major report
Anonymous writes "
Food 2030 Defra strategy paper
The Food 2030 strategy is the result of discussions over a long period with many
stakeholders. Defra thanks those who have contributed to this process
including FMEG.
The six key themes of the strategy are:
- Having a resilient and economically sustainable food system
- Increasing food production sustainably
- Reducing the food system's greenhouse gas emissions
- Reducing, reusing and reprocessing waste
- Having the appropriate research, skills, knowledge and technology
- Encouraging and enabling people to eat a healthy, sustainable diet
The goals can only be achieved through a strong contribution from
research and innovation and the strategy provides a framework for this.
It recognises the need for further commitment to co-ordination.
The UK has great strengths in the science base and industry. However, innovation in a commercial sense takes place predominantly in
industry. The government can invest in research, education and skills.
The research programme needs close engagement with industry, building a
more integrated community of researchers, funders and users that
extends across disciplines, organisations and sectors. A new Technology
Strategy Board led Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation platform
will fund innovative techological research on waste reduction and
management and greenhouse gas reduction (£90m over 5 years). The
strategy encourages exploitation of European research opportunities,
will lead to a major Foresight food study on global food supply and
lead to a new BBSRC Advanced Training Partnership scheme (masters,
doctoral and CPD) with higher and further education. New metrics will
be developed to monitor research collaboration, innovation and skills.
Engineering is highlighted as an underpinning skill, p7.This will be needed for a projected increase of 45% in energy demand in
2030 and the need to reduce greenhouse gases. In addition , the amount
of water needed in food processing will increase. The UK food and drink
supply chain accounts for 7% of GDP and employs 3.7 million people.
Food manufacturers, processors, distributors and retailers will need to
be more resource efficient and reduce waste throughout the system. The
food system produces about 18% of UK greenhouse gas emissions and
reduction will pose some interesting challenges. Automation is
mentioned, p72.
Skills are needed in both research and manufacturing,with a lack of academic food science and manufacturing laboratories
highlighted. The research community will have to attract and train the
next generation of researchers and overcome the negative perceptions of
the industry. The industry needs to provide clear demand signals and
not only want these skills, but also upskill and professionalise the
workforce to meet future challenges, p51.
Translation of research into use is often cited as a systematic weakness.To combine the strengths of the research base to the industry requires
effective translation of research outputs to application, p52. Many
companies will feel distant from their community and may find it
difficult to articulate their needs. SMEs in particular are typically
less able to engage directly with research services and this should be
investigated. Building stronger relationships between universities and
businesses will be important. This may involve dialogue related to
products, technologies, processes, knowledge and skills. There should
be more career recognition/promotion of translation skills and
activities. End users include suppliers of equipment, food processors
and retailers. Government roles in funding responsibilities need
clarification.
For the full report see the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/index.htm ...
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Posted by admin on Monday, February 01 @ 11:06:40 CET (46 reads)
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Special offer for FMEG members for Appetite 2010
Anonymous writes "Appetite for Engineering is back – bigger and better
The third Appetite for Engineering networking conference will take the food and beverage industry by storm when it takes place at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire on 29 April 2010.
Appetite for Engineering (A4E) is the one-day conference where automation meets the food industry – and where delegates will learn how to gain competitive advantage and increase profitability.
‘’It will deliver a truly networking conference and forum for the food processing industry,’’ says Peter Middup, publisher of Food Processing magazine, A4E’s associated publication.
‘’It will satisfy buyers’ and specifiers’ appetites for better plant, better equipment, better control and better management of their food and drink processing establishments – and ultimately deliver better products.’’
Conference delegates will meet with and learn from companies that have provided food processors with real improvements in their plant processes. Delegates can arrange exclusive one-to-one consultancy sessions with equipment suppliers, capital investment specialists, supermarkets and several independent food processing advisory bodies. In addition, an international delegation will be on hand to advise you about potential overseas markets.
The event will this year present its most impressive list of speakers yet. After an official opening from Lord Chris Haskins, former Northern Foods chairman, you’ll hear from Marks & Spencer, Lloyds TSB, the Chilled Food Association (CFA), the Food & Drink Federation (FDF), Westaway Sausages, the Centre for Robotics & Automation (CenFRA), the PDM Group, KW Trident, British Sugar and Promar International.
The speakers will be addressing issues and concerns from right across the sector including investment, hygiene, skills and training, robotics and automation partnerships, waste management and sustainability.
Marks & Spencer will talk about retailers’ expectations with respect to suppliers and food manufacturers – a crucial area for many in the sector who are keen to remain informed about supermarket requirements and standards.
A4E has attracted several high profile partners, the principal one being headline sponsor Bosch Rexroth. Other partners include Ishida Europe, Festo, Rockwell Automation, Carruthers, CenFRA, University of Lincoln, PPMA, Rittal, IATC and Siemens.
There is still time for FMEG members to book a 2-for-1 delegate deal. Contact Peter Middup at peter.middup@imlgroup.co.uk ...
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Posted by admin on Tuesday, January 12 @ 18:31:32 CET (48 reads)
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Challenges to make better use of R&D
Anonymous writes "
What are the challenges to making better use of R&D in the food system?
(DEFRA On line discussion document; Improving the food system through research and innovation)
Chair John Reed, Silsoe Technology
The culture of the UK food industry is craft-based and is not geared to academic research. The industry is customer led. This in turn, leads to the equipment requirements. Thought needs to be given to appropriate R&D for food manufacturers, who have to identify engineering researchers, who are not just able, but willing to work with the industry. The other issue is that the number of engineers in the industry is low, the technical in house engineering liaison is lacking. In addition, the research base in the UK is reducing. BBSRC closed Silsoe, Bristol University has closed FRPERC, and IFR Norwich has just declared redundancies. The Food LINK grant scheme has closed
Initiatives such as CenFRA in Yorkshire have helped by providing technology audits. However, there was a need for more regional centres and a national co-ordination of these centres.
Investment carries risk as food is a quickly changing market. For example, in the recession, demand for high value foods has dropped. Thus equipment must be flexible to meet the changing market. Packaging changes a lot and so much thought should be given to a modular approach. Space in factories is an issue, as new equipment must have sufficient space. However, there are radical suggestions such as the Factory in a pipeline that could reduce space requirements. The industry is competitive and concerned about confidentiality. It is easier to go out of industry to seek advice, this advice must include architects and consultants other than engineers. The suppliers have to accommodate the customer's requirements. Very short contracts, like 24 hours, only do not encourage investment and innovation.
There was a need to educate food manufacturers and to create a virtuous triangle of retailer, manufacturer and equipment supplier. Marks and Spencer had a vision for 2020. Companies could install tried and tested automation such as dispatch automation. Proven technology can be deployed but this is not happening. Companies can claim research tax credits and smaller companies can come together in co-operatives.
University research was blue sky and driven by the Research Assessment Exercise criteria. There was a culture gap between universities and manufacturers and communication needed improvement. There was useful knowledge on imaging and sensors in universities but there was a development gap. Reviews of technology areas would be more helpful to industry than one off research papers. A 'who does what where and why guide' may be helpful. Regional guides to help on grants, waste, tax and the local food cluster champion would be helpful. Clearer routes to help are needed. Note FMEG member has supplied the following websites
‘Grants’ column at http://www.nwdabusinessfinance.co.uk/.
The established EEN (Enterprise Europe Network) http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
The brand new "IP NET" (www.theintellectualproperty.net ). It was described to me as:
- "A completely new & FREE technology exchange
- Gives us an "Ebay for innovation" - "Free web tools to support innovation",
- Innovation Park Search
- www.innovationparksearch.info
- Searches the web sites of the tenant companies on UKSPA Science Parks and incubators
- 1000+ technology companies
- Academia Search
- www.academiasearch.info
- Searches the contents of the research web pages of all 120 UK University web sites
- Ideal for finding research partners, expertise, or knowledge
- Investor Search
- www.investorsearch.info
- Searches the contents of 2000 VC and Private Equity firms
- 300 UK
- 350 USA
- 1400 others internationally
- Ideal for searching investor Portfolios
- The Knowledge Vine
- www.theknowledgevine.net
- A new type of knowledge network
- A simple email system for asking questions of a large range of experts and getting answers back efficiently.
BUT there is a need to identify food industry friendly academics.
Research led to proof of concept: development grants were needed. Best practice needed to be defined and next best practice to set benchmarks. The food equipment industry introduces technology to food manufacturers and is more familiar with the industry than the academics.
The need for UK to maximise national food production was highlighted. This would need research and innovation.
The answers to the three questions are
- Lots
- No
- Yes
Reports on the other discussions will follow later. ...
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Posted by admin on Friday, January 01 @ 11:32:47 CET (68 reads)
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Report of Festo meeting - afternoon session
Anonymous writes "FMEG MEETING AT FESTO, NORTHAMPTON - 4 November 2009
- ENERGISING FOOD MANUFACTURING TO EMERGE FROM RECESSION TO A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE PAPERS FROM AFTERNOON SESSION
This successful
meeting was attended by more than 40 delegates. Steve Land welcomed the
meeting to Festo, explained the history of the company and the focus on
automation, industrial control and pneumatics.
Getting Automation into SME's - making the business case Steve Diggines, Head of MES Consulting, Enterprise Market, Atos Origin UK Ltd
Automation
brings the ability to improve the control of the production process. It
reduces variability and defects. It improves efficiency, use of
material, equipment and energy. It does not necessarily reduce the
people deployed but their roles may change.
A micro-brewery
flourishes by producing high quality ale. It wishes to expand without
compromising quality. The process can be approached in a number of
ways. Process engineering, quality improvement or other improvements
can be examined.
Improvements can come in varying sizes. These are smaller point solutions versus major changes. Each potential solution should look at the impacts on:
- People
- Processes
- Organisation
Point changes will involve few people, some technology and should be more straightforward.
Major changes will involve:
- The whole organisation
- People - whose roles may change
- Technology
- Quality
- Engineering
The two types of change can be combined
What you need to know before you change:
- Business priorities
- Identify automation opportunities
- Prioritise your changes
- Build a business case
- Gain approval for funding
Priorities may not include cost reduction but
- Improve competitive advantage
- Improve throughput
- Improve service
- Improve quality
- Improve the environment including health and safety
- Reduce risk
- Increase sustainability
How do you spot opportunities?
By walking through the process, understanding best practice and by increasing the knowledge of the staff.
Where do you seek help?
There are sources of help such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service,
National Industrial Synergy Programme, automation suppliers and some
universities.
How do you prioritise?
You look for the bottlenecks, can you streamline and where are the
biggest benefits? Initially look for some quick wins as this will help
build confidence in the change process. Plot benefits against
automation components. You must specify benefits and be clear how you
would measure improvement and when. Write down key assumptions,
variables and compute financial impact
Then you must Do Something -
Build up ideas and look at:
Costs, benefits and implementation
Outputs, payback, discounted cashflow look at options on funding
Gain approval for funding by selling the ideas internally, look for
outside support eg grant for business investment, Carbon Trust or EU
schemes.
The aim is to create factories fit for the future.
Synergies within Food & Drink Manufacture Charlotte Harper, Regional Manager East Midlands, NISP
The National Industrial Synergy Programme (NISP) works across
industrial sectors. It aims to improve the use of materials in industry
by redirecting waste materials and resources, water and improving
logistics.
The programme is government funded and free. The programme is
regionally based with 12 regional teams and each region has an advisory
group. In the East Midlands the group includes representatives from
Arla, Boots and Nobel Foods.
The scheme allows companies to access practitioners to examine the flow
of raw materials into a process, the waste material out and look at
uses for the waste.
Examples of successful synergies include:
- Turning waste milk into energy
- Bio generation of gas for combined heat and power from aerobic digestion of food waste
- Waste plastic from a crisp manufacturer recycled saving £2,500
- Dissolved air floatation treatment of effluents with solids allowing compliance with legislation
- Surplus carbon dioxide from a nitrogen gas producer re routed to a tomato grower created 65 jobs
Food waste mixed with packaging was a problem as it could contain plastic, metallised polypropylene and low grade plastic.
Food fit for consumption is being channelled to social enterprizes and food waste to anaerobic digestion and vermiculture. ...
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Posted by admin on Thursday, December 03 @ 12:11:48 CET (97 reads)
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