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Innovation & Technologie Angebot

Non-perishable foods shelf life prediction system

Country of Origin: Spain
Reference Number: TOES20181213002
Publication Date: 19 December 2018

Summary

A Spanish technology centre has developed a technology solution that allows predicting, faster and with less costs, the shelf life of non-perishable foods. It also simulates and predicts the viability of new products during their development, before their formulation, what reduces uncertainty. The centre looks for companies interested in technical cooperation agreement to predict the shelf life saving time and costs.

Description

The Spanish technology center has more than 30 years of experience in the design of technological solutions.The creation of multidisciplinary teams allows offering integral solutions to the entire value chain. Regarding new products development, the center has wide experience in product formulation responding to market trends and consumer demand. 



When developing a new food product, it is necessary to estimate its shelf life. For non- perishable foods, the estimation of shelf life may exceed one year carrying out high uncertainty experiences. For companies, a year waiting is a long time in which consumer preferences may change, or it may even be the case that none of the formulations is viable and it is necessary to start again, with the consequent expenses and loss of opportunities. On the other hand, before batches´ release it is necessary to ensure that the food meets quality and safety parameters. Sometimes, changes may arise in the production process and till the product has not been analysed at the end of the production, it is not possible to known whether it is suitable or not, what may lead to batches losses.



A Spanish technology centre has developed a technology solution capable of predicting the shelf life of a food or a new formula. Unlike conventional ways, it can predict the shelf life in less time and with greater precision. The technology solution is modular, customisable (adapts to every company requirements), multi-user (more than one person from the company can access the system at the same time) and web service. It allows the management and analysis of stabilities information at different incubation conditions in order to predict their shelf life.



The developed technology solution, based on mathematical (statistical) algorithms, allows to predict the shelf life contrasting with either data previously collected by the company or bibliographic data.

A statistical treatment of the data is performed and the model is validated by comparing stabilities´ behaviour and identifying similarities or differences with respect to a pattern.



Technology solution functionalities are grouped into three:

- Product quality data management. The solution registers quality and stability data, for its later management. It can also be used as a support system for quality management and traceability among other. 

- Batches validation and formulas selection. When developing a new product, it is possible to simulation the behaviour over the time and its comparison with a known reference.

- Predicting or estimating product shelf life. Studying the stability in forced conditions during a short time. It is useful to predict the behaviour of a product when some of the key parameters are modified, such as the environment, conservative concentrations, temperatures or pressures.



These capabilities allow performing predictive shelf life studies in forced conditions, reducing the need to conduct real-time studies under commercialisation conditions.



The developed technology solution has a robust, objective and rapid methodology supported by statistical foundations.



Over time, the precision of the solution will be greater since the parameters, physical-chemical and organoleptic, of reference will be more exhaustive.



The most innovative aspects of the novel development are:

• Time saving, since it is not necessary to carry out long studies

• Reduction of new product times to market and batches release

• Uncertainty reduction when launching new products to the market and the consequent cost savings.

• Tracing production changes and how they affect product quality.



The centre seeks food companies interested in predicting non-perishable food products shelf life and tracing process parameters and their influence in product´s quality. The centre offers its technology solution in the framework of a technical cooperation agreement.

Advantages and Innovations

Main advantages and innovations of the developed technology solution are:

•	Reduces the necessity of long studies, since the solution is based on accelerated studies and validated mathematical and statistically mechanism. Therefore, it guarantees time and cost saving. 

•	Accelerates the time to market of new products.

•	Increases new products success ratio, since it can guarantee food quality parameters along the shelf life in a more reliable way

•	Reduces the necessity to analyze parameters that are not critical to business objectives allowing focus the efforts in those related to ensuring food quality, minimize costs…

•	Minimizes the risks of quality problems that can affect brand image.

•	Allows making decisions in a traceable and objective way. The knowledge resides in the company and not in the people.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Requested partner

Food companies interested in reducing time and cost when predicting the shelf life of a product are sought for technical cooperation agreement. Moreover, food companies that want to better manage quality parameters during the production process are sought too.