Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 3

The project aims to develop a portable instrument for the detection and identification of contaminants found on surfaces in contact with food by using the laser-induced fluorescence of aromatic amino acids. The instrument will address a number of challenges facing companies in the food processing sector: ensuring food safety (quality control and quality assurance in the plant), increasing productivity (rapid response following detection and identification of pathogen), and reducing operating costs (reduction of consumables and waste management costs). Cintech, specialized in food technologies, in collaboration with MPBC, a leader in the optics and photonics, as well as Sani Marc, a major player and reference in the field of sanitation, form an ideal consortium in order to optimize the chances of technology transfer and marketing.The instrument will not generate contaminated material, and will be quick and easy to use with no need for consumables. It will help manage critical control points more efficiently, faster and at almost zero cost. Sanitation processes may be adjusted as needed in order to minimize the risk of product contamination. Finally yet importantly, technology can also be applied to other industrial sectors (eg, work safety, hospitals, etc.), allowing many future partnerships and benefits. This project will enable Cintech to develop an extensive and unique expertise in Quebec, which can be transferred to all sectors of the food industry. The manufacturing and marketing of the device will allow industrial partners to develop new markets.The main stages of the project are: 1) characterization of contaminants (pathogenic or non-pathogenic microorganisms, food residues) present in selected food factories; 2) development of detection methods (presence / absence) and identification (discrimination) of contaminants; 3) development of a portable prototype and 4) evaluation of the prototype in real conditions, in the selected food factories.