What is the product/service about?
The mission is to bring the lab to the food samples for rapid on-site testing of contaminants with the Portable Food Contaminant Screener. This will create a positive impact on food safety and waste reduction. NGS aims to explore the technical and legal viability assessment of PFCS in India.
Developed by:
Next Generation Sensors B.V.
Where did the project idea come from?
India presents a huge market with its growing population and emerging economy. After initial market research we found out that food safety issues are a lot more common in India than in Europe. Even though India is growing fast, it hasnt established proper food safety systems yet. This means that in the country there is a lot of a potential to build strong partnerships to foster fast development in the food safety market.
Why did you select that specific target country?
As mentioned before, India has a lot of potential, hence, NGS can bring a meaningful impact to the food systems there. We believe we can solve the major socio economic problem of food safety in India thus improving health and saving lives. On top of that we had established connection with organisations such as the Sea Food Exporters Associations of India, Eruvaka, Central Institute of Fisheries technology and MILMA who are very interested in our portable contaminant screener.
Who are your partners in the target country?
Our main partner in India is CIED Technologies PVT LTD. CIED has been building blockchain technologies for quality assurance in the agricultural industry since 2013. The company has worked with Multinational organisations such as Unilever, Solidaridad, IDH & FiBL for building technologies that ensures sustainability in agro food supply chains.
Our other partner is INDOCERT, which is India’s first indigenous certification body, that operates nationally and internationally with thousands of operators in the certification system. INDOCERT operators include primary producers, processors, traders and exporters to retailers and wholesalers.
What is your long term vision for your company working in your chosen partner country?
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have concluded that around 68.7 per cent of milk and milk products sold in the country is contaminated with adulterants that and can cause irreversible damage to human organs. Same applies to water quality and other food and for this reason India is currently ranked 72nd in global food security index. Our vision is to detect the hazardous contaminants early in Indias food supply chains, so it is possible to maintain food safety and avoid illnesses and poisonings. Ultimately, making India a safer food producer, that can eventually expand and diversify their export.
What impact do you believe INNOWWIDE will have on your company?
INNOWWIDE has enabled us to establish partnerships with Central Institute of Fisheries Technologies, and Seafood Exporters of India for much broader RTDI project detection of antibiotics in sea food and water, which upon successes will lead to an access to 350 member companies of sea food exporters association of India. These early users will provide us with 10.5 million revenue and boost our growth in India.
Can you offer any advice or guidance to others looking to apply for INNOWWIDE grants?
Find a great strategic partner in your target country. Because in the end it’s the partnership that will help you grow.