Thirteen speakers from across the food industry are scheduled to speak. Mike Fata is the key note speaker. Presentation titles are attached and are compelling. There is a student poster competition as well.

Lunch and light refreshments are provided. Please RSVP here by Thursday, October 31 to help us plan.

Attached below is the final agenda for the RCFTR Food Technology and Research Day event on Thursday, Nov 14.

Attachments:

Agenda Invitation Food Technology and Research Day Nov 14.pdf

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Camarillo, California (October 10, 2024) — Hygiena^® is proud to announce that Mark Carter, our Senior Global Software Product Manager, assumed the presidency of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) at the conclusion of the IAFP 2024 Annual Meeting. This prestigious role highlights Mark’s extensive expertise in food safety and quality management, as well as his commitment to advancing public health on a global scale, reinforcing Hygiena's leadership in the industry.

Mark Carter brings a wealth of experience to both Hygiena and IAFP, as an industry expert. As the CEO of MC Squared Enterprises, Inc. (MC2), he has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of life science business, food safety and technology development. His consultancy has been instrumental in helping organizations worldwide enhance public health initiatives. Before joining Hygiena, Mark held several influential positions, including Chief Operating Officer of Matrix Sciences and CEO of QCL. His background also includes pivotal roles at Kraft Foods and McKee Foods Corporation, where he focused on microbiology and food safety.

Mark’s longstanding involvement with IAFP, dating back to 1993, is a testament to his dedication to the field of food safety. Over the years, he has contributed significantly to the Association through various leadership roles, including serving on multiple committees and co-founding the Sample Prep working group. His commitment to IAFP is further evidenced by his active participation in the organization of technical symposia, poster presentations and his involvement in key Professional Development Groups (PDGs) focused on Applied Laboratory Methods and Food Sanitation and Hygiene.

At Hygiena, we are honored to have leaders like Mark Carter who are not only experts in their field but also passionate about making a global impact on food safety. Mark’s appointment as President of IAFP is a reflection of his exceptional leadership and his deep knowledge of food production, which is relevant across every segment and product line at Hygiena.

"Mark Carter’s presidency at IAFP is a significant achievement that underscores Hygiena’s commitment to excellence and innovation in food safety," said Steven Nason, CEO of Hygiena. "His expertise and vision have always been inspiring, and I have no doubt that under his leadership, the association will continue to thrive and achieve new heights. This is a well-deserved recognition of Mark’s hard work and passion for advancing our industry.”

As Mark takes on this new role, he remains committed to his work at Hygiena, where he leads the development of our global software product strategies. His leadership at IAFP will undoubtedly bring new insights and strengthen our mission to create innovative diagnostics for a healthier world.

Hygiena – We create innovative diagnostics for a healthier world

What companies in Germany keep resources in the loop longest through re-use, recycling, or repair? What innovative approaches to waste reduction are in use today? ServiceValue GmbH and the F.A.Z. Institute examined these questions in detail. In a two-stage web monitoring process between 2022 and 2024, they analyzed the data from 5,500 companies in 38 industries. Now the results are in: SÜDPACK achieved the top rating in the “Packaging Manufacturer” category. With a score of 100 points, the company sets the benchmark for all the other companies in its industry included in the study.

“Leadership in Sustainability” is a primary goal of SÜDPACK. The company originally aimed to meet the ambitious targets in its sustainability strategy by 2030, but is already close to achieving them. In the 2022 and 2023 cross-sector sustainability rankings of WirtschaftsWoche magazine, the film manufacturer was named one of the top sustainability performers among Germany’s medium-sized companies. This latest study, which was supported scientifically by the Institute for Management and Economic Research (IMWF), defines SÜDPACK as a pioneer and model in the area of circular economy in the packaging industry, awarding it top position in this market in 2024.

The process

The study is not just a current snapshot but the result of extensive research and evaluations over many months. The first stage from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2024 consisted of crawling German-language internet sources, including editorial webpages and social media, using defined key words to identify all relevant texts from the internet. The second stage, processing, used AI to analyze the collected data and its fragmentation. In this way, some 3.5 million uses of the key words by around 5,500 companies were identified, allocated, and weighted in terms of range and tonality balance. In the tonality balance, “ecological sustainability” was weighted at 50%, “economic sustainability” at 30%, and “general sustainability” at 20%. Next, the points awarded to all companies and brands were standardized according to industry. The best company in each industry achieved the benchmark of 100 points, and received the award “Germany’s best in circular economy 2024”.

SÜDPACK actively drives the transformation process

“With this award, the initiators recognize companies that apply sustainable methods and business models to combat today’s throwaway society and that prove ecological and business success can go together,” underlines Erik Bouts, the CEO of SÜDPACK. He believes the award has come at just the right time. “We set new standards with our recyclable and material-reduced product developments and point the way to a sustainable future. The same goes for our policy of expanding capacities and technologies for compounding, regranulation, and chemical recycling. But a genuine transformation can only happen if industry, politics, legislation, and society take the next steps jointly.”

This dedication to the responsible use of raw materials and recyclables, curbing the consumption of fossil resources, and optimizing the carbon footprint along the entire supply chain is rooted in the DNA of the successful, family-owned company. SÜDPACK operates its own material management system and holds the majority share in carboliq GmbH. carboliq is a groundbreaking process for direct oiling of a wide range of plastic fractions. As a result of these two factors, SÜDPACK is currently the only film manufacturer able to use both mechanical and chemical recycling for its products.

“As a valuable resource, carbon must be kept in the loop”

The carboliq plant in Ennigerloh has already impressively demonstrated that mixed and contaminated post-consumer plastics as well as previously non-recyclable composite materials can be transformed into a high-value liquid resource. Erik Bouts sums it up best himself: “The circular economy in the plastics and packaging industry is no utopia. It’s already a reality at SÜDPACK!”

The F.A.Z. study

… is available online at https://www.faz.net/asv/beste-in-der-kreislaufwirtschaft. The complete findings are presented at www.servicevalue.de.

Steep Hill Equipment, a leading provider of food processing and industrial equipment, is proud to announce its 3-year anniversary operating in the United States. Since establishing its presence in Edmond, Oklahoma, Steep Hill has rapidly grown to serve a wide range of clients across North America, offering top-tier equipment solutions to the food processing industry. 

 As part of its continued expansion, Steep Hill’s Abbotsford, British Columbia location has also seen significant growth, hosting four major auctions in 2024 alone. This increased activity has allowed the company to meet the growing demands of the food processing sector while reinforcing its commitment to providing accessible, high-quality machinery. “We are thrilled to mark this milestone in the USA and to witness the tremendous growth at our Abbotsford location,” said Brent Larsen, Founder and CEO of Steep Hill Equipment. “Our goal has always been to offer efficient and reliable equipment solutions for the food industry, and we’re proud of the strong relationships we’ve built with our clients and partners across North America.” 

As part of its ongoing auction activities, Steep Hill is currently auctioning a full cherry processing and sizing line. This state-of-the-art equipment provides an invaluable opportunity for food producers looking to enhance their processing capabilities. Steep Hill Equipment remains dedicated to continuing its growth and offering unparalleled service to clients as it looks ahead to the future. 

For more information, visit www.steephillequipment.com