EPECentre is hosting the project "A new electromagnetic imaging method for advanced food process optimization".
This is a 5-year programme (2021-26) funded through MBIE Endeavour Fund Research Programme and led by the EPECentre at the University of Canterbury.
Food processing is one of New Zealand’s most important economic sectors. Food safety and quality control are at the core of all government and industry food strategies. We will develop a new imaging technique, referred to as “electrical admittance tomography”. By detecting and digitally processing the variations in electric and magnetic fields within food mixtures flowing through our sensors, we will be able to “see” into the food as it is being processed and in motion. These variations arise due to the differences in electrical conductivity of different materials passing through – for instance metals are very conductive, plastic and rubber are non-conductive, while foods occupy a range in between.
The new technology will provide a multifunctional, economical, viable detection system to enhance product quality, safety and efficiency in the food processing industry. The core research team is based at the Universities of Canterbury and Auckland, and Lincoln Agritech. This team has expertise ranging from computer modelling, electronic sensing and digital signal processing, through to food process engineering. In addition we are working with overseas experts in electrical imaging and food processing.
Our programme will produce many benefits for a wide range of end users, including milk, cheese, ice-cream and sausage producers. In addition to improved food safety, reduced waste and increased efficiency, will be the creation of jobs in manufacturing to produce and sell the sensing and imaging systems based on our technology. We are working with NZ-based manufacturing and process design partners, to produce and market the products, and with seven well-known major NZ food producers, in the dairy and meat processing sectors.
PhD Opportunities
We are currently recruiting for PhD students (updated Dec 2022)
PhD - Food Sensing and Imaging Programme opportunity (information)
To apply, contact Dr Bill Heffernan, Principal Research Engineer, EPECentre, UC, at Bill.Heffernan@epecentre.ac.nz and send a CV, cover letter and transcript. Contact info@epecentre.ac.nz if you have any other questions.
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