The Emenasa Group, an expert in industrial robotics, and the Anfaco-Cecopesca technology centre have concluded 7 years of joint research that has resulted in an innovative industrial product based on photonics, which will revolutionise the way the food industry carries out quality and safety controls. With a public contribution of 1.15 million euros and a total investment of 3.8 million euros, the project, called Future Food Factory, has been supported by the Xunta de Galicia within the framework of the Joint Research Units programme.

The European Commission has selected advanced photonics as one of the key technologies for sectors such as the food industry. The implementation of this technology, in addition to revolutionising the quality and safety control of food during manufacturing processes, makes it possible to automate inspection processes, reduce product wastage and potential incidents. Furthermore, thanks to the automation of the processes, a reduction in energy consumption costs can be achieved. All these factors make this technology a key driver for progress towards smart manufacturing.

Specifically, through this Joint Unit, which has had the cooperation of 14 companies, progress has been made regarding the development of technologies with hyperspectral imaging, which allow the rapid qualitative and quantitative determination of the raw material, on the process line and in real time, with a high degree of precision and in a non-invasive manner, operating with all the requirements of the marine food manufacturing industry.

More specifically, work has taken place on several applications, such as measuring moisture, fat, protein, salt or sugars, among others, as well as texture control, detection of foreign bodies, filling volume, degree of cooking, etc. It also allows raw material to be classified by colour, shape, size, etc. Applications are currently available for fish products, potatoes, fruit, cereals, biscuits, animal feed and even, outside the food processing sector, for wood.

The Joint Research Units are an instrument of public-private cooperation promoted by the Xunta de Galicia to jointly develop strategic RD&I activities and guarantee the transfer of knowledge to industry. In total, since the launch of this programme in 2014, the Xunta de Galicia has supported 55 Joint Research Units, with the participation of 39 companies and 14 knowledge centres, and a final total investment of almost 155 million euros.