At the recent South African Citrus Research Symposium, Compac launched a field research unit, a mobile laboratory in a 40ft container. According to the company, it is the first of its kind within the fresh produce industry. The field research unit can be placed anywhere along the supply chain to analyse both external and internal attributes of fruit. The data gathered in this way aids in decision-making to reduce food wastage and improve packouts, as well as in research and product development.
Chris Komatas, vice-president of product management of Compac, which has been part of TOMRA Food since last year, notes that false codling moth (FCM) was one of the main talking points at the Citrus Research Symposium. “From our side there is a firm commitment to investigate FCM and the sensor solutions that will be needed. The ability to detect FCM is one of our main priorities with this field research unit.”
He continues that the initial focus is on citrus but that it will widen to other commodities, with priority given to matters affecting the entire industry.
James Flocchini (Compac), Marius du Preez (Mascgor), Miquette Mienie (Compac), Dean Barker (Compac), Gerhard Verster (Compac) and Mike Riley (TOMRA Food) in front of the field research unit
Compac and TOMRA have research centres in Europe and New Zealand, but sending infected produce to those centres is hampered by phytosanitary regulations and shipping restrictions. The mobile unit now brings their technology directly to the industry. According to Dean Barker, Compac director of research & development projects, the unit offers customers unrivalled convenience. “This is confirmation of Compac’s agile response to customers’ needs.”
Through TOMRA, Compac is able to integrate technology from other sectors like mining, sorting, recycling and recovery, which opens up new horizons in fruit analysis. Its mobile laboratory is equipped with benchtop spectrometers, hyperspectral imaging equipment, texture analysers, the new Compac Inspectra2 internal inspection system for fresh produce as well as the TOMRA QVision for protein, moisture and fat analysis. “In thirty years, we need to generate 70% more food and where is that going to come from?” asks James Flocchini, Compac regional director for China and South Africa. “We don’t have 70% more arable land but there’s a large amount of wastage in the industry, so using some of our technologies and the knowledge from the recycling side, we think we’re going to have a bigger role to play in the whole space not just of sorting fruit, but in the recovery and better utilisation of product. That’s the future of this industry.”
The field research unit is due to start testing over the following two weeks at a Limpopo citrus farm, whereafter its use is already in demand outside South Africa. The company foresees more such units to answer to worldwide demand.
For more information:
Marijke BellemansTOMRA Sorting
Tel: +32 (0) 16 742 817 ext. 217
Email: marijke.bellemans@tomra.com