Environmental Biotechnology CRC funding

Summary

MLA and AMPC are industry partners in the CRC and contribute funds to assist the aims of the CRC. This funding has allowed capacity to be built for blue sky and fundamental environmental research on environmental threats and opportunities in meat processing. The annual contribution has been in the form of core funding - in that it is not allocated to specific projects, but rather is used to support all the activities of the CRC.
The key technology areas being developed through the EBCRC with applications for the Australian red meat industry are;
Biofilm management
Cleaning of surfaces, particularly food handling surfaces
Biofilm control in water and manufacturing pipes
Membrane cleaning Aerobic granulation
Rapid aerobic digestion of high strength wastes
Minimisation of sludge production and improved dewatering Anaerobic digestion and nutrient recovery
Sludge digestion - small to medium scale systems, including energy recovery
Nitrogen and phosphorus removal and recovery for re-use
Integrated biosystems for conversion of nutrients to protein meal Odour control
High rate odour decomposition using selected bioactive organisms/enzymes on inert substrates
Rapid detection of contaminants
Field/production site determination of water microbial contaminants - under 1 hour
Field/production site determination of high risk pathogens in food/air processing - under 2 hours
Manufacture of specialised kits for rapid field or production site, non-laboratory, detection
All these are centred on key technologies that EBCRC has patented or is in the process of patenting or for which it has proprietary knowledge. AMPC members have or are participating in many of the programs and there is potential benefit to members of the red meat industry in all the above projects.