smartFoodTechnologyOWL: Partnership for the use of Industry 4.0 in the food industry
The smartFoodTechnologyOWL partnership is an innovation alliance consisting of Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts and partners from the worlds of industry, trade and commerce, as well as other research institutions.
contact details
Website
More about the partnership:
smartFoodtechnologyOWL website
Contact
Dr. Nele Jantz
smartFoodTechnologyOWL office
info@sft-owl.de
The smartFoodTechnologyOWL partnership uses the potential of digitalization and Industry 4.0 technologies to network value and production chains in the food industry. Its goal is to improve the quality and safety of food and to strengthen the sustainability and economic efficiency of production processes through novel product and production approaches.
Food is a highly sensitive issue: our health and well-being depend on its quality and safety. Their production requires precise planning and maximum efficiency, as it is essential to use limited raw materials wisely, avoid undersupply and overproduction, minimize environmental impact, and operate economically at the same time. These are complex challenges that are tailor-made for the use of intelligent digital technologies. This is what the smartFoodTechnologyOWL research alliance is working on.
The partnership's application-oriented research combines the food focus of the Institute of Food Technology (ILT.NRW) with the expertise of the Institute of Industrial Information Technology (inIT) at OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Together with partners from industry, trade, commerce and other research and network institutions, smartFoodTechnologyOWL is creating a unique research alliance for innovations in production, quality, safety, distribution, and sustainability of food.
Cooperative research projects are addressing central challenges of the food industry in which Industry 4.0 technologies and the implementation of networked overall systems promise great potential for the economy and society. These are
- real-time quality assurance in production,
- the reduction of food waste through intelligent production processes, products, and services (intelligent handling of shelf life),
- the optimization of energy and resource efficiency,
- the individualization of products and corresponding production processes,
- and the transparency and authentication throughout the entire life cycle,
combined with the possibility of generating entirely new food information systems and new business models.
Partnership profile
The buzzword “Industry 4.0” describes the idea of optimizing industrial production through the use of state-of-the-art information and communication technology. Intelligent, digitally networked systems enable largely self-organized production processes in which people, machines, and products communicate directly with each other. As a result, not only individual manufacturing steps but the entire value chain can be made more efficient.
The smartFoodTechnologyOWL partnership is transferring this approach to the complete value chain of food production. The partnership is led and coordinated by the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The university is working on innovative products and technologies for the food industry together with around 40 small and large regional partners from industry, trade, and commerce as well as other research and network institutions.
Ambitious goals
The goal is to increase the quality and safety of industrially produced food products and to make manufacturing processes more sustainable and efficient. In addition, the partners want to facilitate the traceability of food and thus create more transparency for consumers, who will then be able to trace the path of their vegetables from the field to their plate, step by step. Another important topic is the efficient production of food in a wide variety to meet increasingly differentiated consumer needs. This is referred to as the individualization of food production, which is demanded by consumers in view of increasing food intolerances. The research alliance is working on solutions for production-ready and sustainable production.
Benefits for consumers and partners
The commitment of smartFoodTechnologyOWL pays off both for consumers and for the corporate partners. Consumers benefit from safe, high-quality, and sustainably produced food. The partner companies can directly apply the research results and thus increase their competitiveness. Thus, smartFoodTechnologyOWL makes an important contribution to strengthening Ostwestfalen-Lippe as a business location.
High social importance
The reliable supply of high-quality, safe, and sustainably produced food is an important issue for society as a whole. Therefore, smartFoodTechnologyOWL is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the “Strong UAS - Impulse for the Region” funding (FH-Impuls). The positive effects of the research alliance now extend to the entire region, whose position as a centre of competence and innovation in the food industry is being strengthened by the work of smartFoodTechnologyOWL.
Moreover, the topics of smartFoodTechnologyOWL are receiving a great deal of attention from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research NRW is supporting the initiative from 2016 to 2024 in two accompanying measures.
Partner statements
Dr. Stefan Pecoroni, member of the smartFoodTechnologyOWL strategy group, Vice President Process Technology & Innovation at GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
“As a leading supplier of machines and equipment for the global food industry and other demanding process industries, we at GEA depend on reliable external research and cooperation partners to achieve our ambitious innovation goals.
As a long-standing project partner, we have been able to gain a lot of positive experience in this regard in our cooperation with the TH OWL, whether in the context of larger collaborations such as smartFoodTechnologyOWL or for smaller individual projects.
The expertise in food technology in combination with digital competence always results in particularly exciting approaches for innovative, digital solutions in the food industry. Thus, we see great potential in the collaboration, now and in the future.”
Christian Fretter, member of the smartFoodTechnologyOWL strategy group, Head of Product Development Pizza International at Dr. August Oetker Nahrungsmittel KG
“The smartFoodTechnologyOWL cluster project allows our company to realize solutions from the competence area of food production combined with intelligent automation and prognostics. With its network of scientific disciplines, the cluster offers excellent conditions for this.
The cross-value chain approach is also of great importance because many steps have to be taken into account, from raw materials through processing to trade and consumers. A particular challenge in this context is the very complex process of material change in food. Looking at IP3 (data analysis and autonomous prognostics to improve the transparency and safety of food), for example, the potential of a prognostic best-before date in terms of resource efficiency becomes apparent. I am convinced that very practical solutions will emerge here and in the other projects.”
(Text: smartFoodTechnologyOWL partnership)