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C-Tech Innovation
 Where are you based and what kind of organisation are you?
C-Tech is an independent development and consulting company based near Chester. We provide multi-disciplinary research, innovation and knowledge transfer services to companies, universities and government bodies.
What is your broad area of expertise?
We are a hands-on research organisation not 'just' a consultancy, so we cover contract research and new product development, technology implementation management, innovation strategy development, technical due diligence, market and technical assessment surveys, and analysis and recommendation of process improvements.
With respect to the food-climate change agenda we're actively involved in things like energy efficient food and food waste treatment processes, and fermentative production of biogases (hydrogen, methane) for energy generation from food waste and by-products.
 Give a range of the projects you are currently working on
Knowledge transfer is a key element of our business. C-Tech runs the Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network and is a delivery partner for the Bioscience for Business KTN, both part of the Knowledge Transfer Networks programme supporting UK Technology Strategy. These important joint industrial / knowledge base networks are enhanced by strong links with complementary organisations such as Food Processing KTN, IFR - and of course Food Climate Research Network!
We participate extensively in UK and EU research programmes, and are always keen to initiate new collaborations. For instance, C-Tech researchers are currently involved in BBSRC supported research with the Universities of Birmingham and East Anglia ('Integrated sustainable energy production from food wastes using dual harnessed hydrogenases and novel fuel cell' (Project Ref: BB/C516128/1)) using novel thermal treatments to make food wastes amenable to hydrogen producing bio-processes. The combination of these processes with innovative energy generation systems allows direct conversion of food wastes and by-products into electricity.
We apply microwave, radio-frequency and ohmic heating towards high quality, energy- and resource-efficient food processing. Ohmic heating passes electricity directly through a (liquid) food medium, providing rapid, uniform heating without the problems of hot heat transfer surfaces. You can ohmically heat anything from soups, to dairy products, fruit products, ready meals, casseroles, sauces, chowders and ragouts.
Similar techniques are being adapted to the treatment of strategically important food chain wastes, such as Category 2 Animal By-Products, where more acceptable alternatives to conventional rendering / incineration are required in the handling of meat pathogens.
Other things currently on the to-do list include developing solutions for by-product glycerol (arising from transesterification of tallow for biodiesel), promoting hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, and non-chemical techniques for pathogen destruction in soils.
What do you see as the big questions for the food climate research community at the moment?
Energy from crops needs more scrutiny. It's questionable at best if bio-energy crop yields can ever correlate with demand without consuming too much land. There are also issues of long term soil erosion and fertility loss, and the displacement of food crops in developing countries.
By contrast, energy recovery from food chain residues has the potential to significantly enhance energy economics and environmental impact. There's still (real and perceived) uncertainty about definitions of waste and 'not waste' which can act as a barrier to innovation.
Transportation is central to the food life cycle. We need to inform consumer perception of the right balance point between fresh, quality, year round products and the impact of food miles, packaging, and chilling. Resilient trans-border policies for food products and waste handling would help too.
What are the big questions you feel YOU are seeking to answer at the moment?
Treatment of waste waters remains a high volume, no-added value challenge for food chain operations. Interestingly this challenge also crosses over to the transportation agenda, where marine eco-systems are at risk from contaminated bilge waters. A C-Tech joint venture company, Elentec is therefore pursuing the application of electrochemical oxidation to this challenge.
What are the milestones might we look out for (e.g. report publication; launch event; conference, etc.)?
C-Tech and the Resource Efficiency KTN have produced several reports relevant to the food-climate change issue; mass balance studies for Agricultural Waste, Food and Drink Processing, and Thermal Treatment Methods ; the DEFRA New Technologies Demonstrator Catalogue of Applications; and shortly a new Energy from Food Waste joint publication with the Food Processing KTN and a companion report to follow on Category 2 Animal By-Products.
Other forthcoming events are new special interest groups at the Resource Efficiency KTN web portal in Food Chain Sustainability led by IFR and into Retail Packaging by WRAP, and a major 2-day conference into Food Chain Wastes co-organised between Resource Efficiency KTN, Food Processing KTN, Resource Recovery Forum, and WRAP.
What are your plans for the immediate future as regards this work?
We are keen to apply our intellectual capital in any viable commercial or collaborative opportunity, and to make the most of our position at the heart of the stakeholder community. Any relevant enquiries would be welcome, please contact us using the details below.
Contact details
Michael Harrison, Operations Director,
Michael.Harrison@ctechinnovation.com
For enquiries related to the free knowledge transfer services of the Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network, please contact:
John Henderson, Deputy Director - Operations,
John.Henderson@ctechinnovation.com .
For the Bioscience for Business KTN contact:
Wolfgang Skibar, Knowledge Transfer Manager,
Wolfgang.Skibar@ctechinnovation.com
C-Tech Innovation Limited
Capenhurst Technology Park,
Chester, CH1 6EH
Tel: 0151 347 2900
www.ctechinnovation.com
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