Meat & Poultry magazine - November 1, 2002
Degrees of Excellence:
Ranking the Top 10 Universities Serving the Meat and Poultry
Industry
Georgia Tech's Agricultural Technology Research Program weighs in at number 10
Georgia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Research Program has a history
of developing innovative poultry processing technologies, and successfully
taking them from the drawing board to commercial applications. Led by Craig
Wyvill, some of the sharpest engineering minds in the world are applying
their know-how to improving poultry processing, through automation and process
enhancements.
Some of GT’s recent innovations include the design of a U.S.D.A.-approved
sound-absorbing panel for effectively reducing noise in poultry plants, development
of a computer-vision system that identifies and sizes poultry parts, as well
as the development of a covered scalder to reduce heat loss and conserve
energy. Because margins are paper thin in the poultry industry, any research
designed to increase efficiencies are more valuable than ever.
The university maintains productive relationships with companies like
Cagle’s, Inc., ConAgra Foods, Gold Kist and Mar-Jac Poultry and Wayne
Farms, all of which are also corporate donors toward the school’s new
45,000-square-foot Food Processing Technology Research Facility.
The research facility is being added with the goal of establishing
working relationships with faculty and students from other universities and
government agencies, and encouraging them to use the facility to support
their research projects. Administrators also hope it will provide opportunities
for equipment makers and meat/poultry companies to interact in the initial
phases of technology development. The addition is one more step toward the
university’s commitment to improving the food processing industry by
utilizing technology.
Georgia Tech Research Institute News Release - January 9, 2003 Georgia Tech Ranked Among Top Ten Universities Serving Meat and Poultry
Industry
The Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) at the Georgia
Institute of Technology is among the top ten university programs
serving the meat and poultry industry, according to an industry
survey conducted
by Meat and Poultry magazine. ATRP is based at the Georgia Tech Research
Institute, the university's applied research arm.
ATRP earned Georgia Tech a number 10 ranking in its debut appearance
on the nationwide list. Home of "some of the sharpest engineering minds
in the world," according to the magazine, ATRP also was lauded for developing
innovative poultry processing technologies, and successfully taking them
from the drawing board to commercial applications."
"
We are thrilled to be recognized in this way, particularly when you
look at the caliber of competition we faced," notes Craig Wyvill, ATRP
director. "Yet, we are not surprised, given the unique nature of our
program and its pioneering efforts to bring new technology innovation to
the industry."
Specific Georgia Tech ATRP research projects cited for their contributions
to the meat and poultry industries include:
• design of a U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved sound-absorbing panel
that reduces noise in poultry processing plants
• a computer vision system that identifies and sizes poultry parts
• a covered scalder that reduces heat loss and conserves energy.
In addition, the November 2003 issue of Meat and Poultry recognized ATRP for
its automation and process enhancements; noted ATRP's strong relationships
with top companies in the meat and poultry industry as well as with government
agencies
and other universities. It also commended Georgia Tech's investment in a state-of-the-art
new Food Processing Technology Research Center, for which ground-breaking is
scheduled this month.
With an eye on future innovations, ATRP researchers are working on
advanced, high-speed computer imaging systems, innovative robotic
materials handling systems,
wireless computer technology, advanced water and waste management technologies,
a biosensor, and intelligent processing concepts. Licensing discussions are
in progress on at least three of these developments.
Other universities appearing in the top 10 were No. 1, Texas
A&M;
2, Iowa State; 3, Kansas State; 4, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; 5,
University of Arkansas;
6,Oklahoma State; 7, Colorado State; 8, University of Illinois; and 9, Texas
Tech. |
