Groundbreaking biotechnology developed in Canberra, Australia, offers the potential to significantly curtail global dairy spoilage—where over 150 million tonnes of milk are discarded annually. The solution allows dairy processors to verify raw milk quality in under three minutes, replacing conventional multi-day laboratory testing protocols.
Rapid Biosensing with ‘Cybertongue’
Developed by Canberra-based PPB Technology from foundational CSIRO scientific research, the Cybertongue device utilizes specialized biosensors to detect protease enzyme activity in raw milk consignments before high-temperature processing.
Optimizing Production Streams to Minimize Spoilage
By quantifying enzyme sensitivity on-site within minutes, dairy manufacturers can route batches accordingly—directing enzyme-sensitive milk toward shorter-shelf-life goods such as cheese or yogurt, rather than discarding batches outright.
Global deployment of the technology is projected to reduce global milk losses by one-third to one-half, preventing over 70 million tonnes of agricultural food waste every year.
Source: ABC News
