USA – Neogen Corporation has entered into a partnership with food industry blockchain pioneer Ripe Technology to adapt innovative blockchain technology for use with Neogen’s food safety diagnostics and animal genomics.
The partnership will explore the use of blockchain technology in the food and livestock industries to create the history of products and animals along the entire production cycles.
The food safety test kits supplier said that the new collaboration will be initially separate from its recently announced Neogen Analytics platform.
Neogen Analytics is an innovative platform that enables users to automate food safety workflows, and continuously monitor and analyze food risk data generated by the company’s food safety diagnostic products.
By automating and connecting multiple data points through diagnostic testing in a production facility, the food safety data analytics platform enables food producers and processors to harness their data to create a holistic picture around areas of risk that can guide operational decisions.
When fully integrated, the company believes that the two technologies can form the basis for advanced data-driven decisions for its customers.
“Blockchain has tremendous potential throughout the food and livestock industries, both to verify the authenticity of premium products, such as cage-free eggs, and enhance the traceability of issues that require correction, such as those that lead to product recalls,” said John Adent, Neogen’s chief executive officer.
“Ripe.io (Ripe Technology) is the perfect partner for us as we work to adapt the technology to our industry,” Adent continued.
“They have real-life experience with working with food producers, food distributors, restaurants and food retailers — all key market segments for us.”
Raja Ramachandran, ripe.io’s chief executive officer said: “We are extremely excited that Neogen selected us as their blockchain and ledger technology partner.
“Neogen’s diagnostics and DNA expertise can add the highest degree of transparency and factual correctness for critical issues around authenticity and accuracy on food recalls.
“We believe this will change the game in food transparency for improved quality assessment from the beginning of the supply chain all the way to consumers.
To further enable the company to expand its food safety solutions, Neogen recently acquired United Kingdom-based Abtek Biologicals, a developer and supplier of culture media supplements and microbiology technologies.
With the acquisition, Abtek’s Liverpool operations will become Neogen’s third global microbiology manufacturing facility — joining locations in Lansing, Michigan, and Heywood, England.
Neogen said that the acquisition is intended to accelerate the growth of its global microbiology business. Abtek’s operations will be managed through Neogen’s European headquarters in Ayr, Scotland.
