WATERLOO, ONTARIO — On Nov. 7, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced an investment of over $2.4 million in P&P Optica Inc. (PPO). The company was selected for its latest technology, utilizing a smart imaging system to inspect meat directly from the production line.

“Canada’s processors are adopting new technologies to increase production and offer quality products across the country and the world,” Bibeau said. “P&P Optica Inc.’s technology gives processors essential information that provides many benefits, including helping to reduce food waste. Our government is committed to investing in innovative projects that support the long-term growth and success of our agriculture and agri-food sector.”

The funds come from the AgriInnovate Program, which aims to accelerate the commercialization or adoption of innovative technologies that improve sector competitiveness and sustainability.

PPO began in 1995 as a research and consulting company, working with different industries. Today to company is focused on helping food processors detect foreign materials in their products.

PPO’s latest smart imaging technology analyzes the composition of food, evaluating properties like tenderness, freshness, and protein, water and fat content. If any imperfections are detected, like plastic, bones and rubber, it will eliminate them. The whole process is completed on the production line in real time, and data from the line are transferred to processors.

Through the funds, PPO will build demonstration units to present their new technology to potential users as well as a demonstration room to optimize their technology for use by potential meat processing clients. 

“P&P Optica Inc. is grateful for the support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and AgriFood through the AgriInnovate program,” said Olga Pawluczyk, chief executive officer at PPO. “PPO is focused on working with food processors to improve the safety and quality of our food supply, while reducing waste. We’re excited about the opportunity to promote our automated inspection system, which is already operating in plants across the US, to Canadian meat processors. We believe the Canadian meat industry, already a global leader in quality products, can increase our competitive edge even further by using technologies like PPO’s Smart Imaging System.”