IN MARKET GROWING DEMAND A new waste use to get tails wagging Powdered beef blood to sprinkle on pet food “We’ve received promising processing, but we’re good for a protein boost and snack treats for feedback on our freeze‑dried at innovation, technology furry friends are among the innovations of milled collagen concepts and developing consumer a freeze‑drying company which has joined using hide waste, which products to create value,” forces with MLA Donor Company (MDC) to create again seeks to optimise Michael said. new markets for red meat by‑products. improved carcase utilisation and address the burgeoning Freeze Dry Industries is wellness mega trend.” also looking at making the Freeze Dry Industries, For example, Freeze Dry technology more available, based in Queensland, is Industries trialled processing He said the collaboration such as establishing solar using MDC co‑funding to fresh blood sourced from a with MDC also addressed hybrid freeze dry units in develop the potential of local abattoir, with 1,000L of the challenge of how to keep regional centres so raw freeze‑drying blood, hide blood producing 200kg of Australia’s red meat industry trim and other lower‑value highly functional powder. materials can be dried before internationally competitive. transportation, to reduce red meat products. “Blood is traditionally used “Australia is a high‑cost freight costs and encourage It’s a process already used in low‑value blood and country when it comes to waste innovation. ■ to turn fruit, vegetables, bone products but we can meat and even camel significantly transform it into Michael Buckley milk into ingredients higher value by turning it into E: michael@freezedryindustries.com.au for pet food, consumer a 97% protein powder that food, pharmaceuticals could be used, for example, freezedryindustries.com.au and cosmetics. to deliver targeted nutrition to Freeze Dry Industries Chief protein‑deficient communities Freeze Dry Industries CEO Michael Buckley, in the freeze‑drying vessel. or into markets where there Photo: FDI Executive Officer Michael Buckley said if it sounded are high premiums for natural a bit like space food, it’s protein‑enriched pet food because it was the same treats,” Michael said. technology used by NASA As part of the partnership for their astronauts. with MDC, Freeze Dry “The original raw material is Industries is trialling different frozen to below ‑30⁰C and uses for freeze‑dried red then slowly dried at low meat waste and by‑products. temperatures (45–50⁰C) Although it’s still early days, to avoid damage. The end Michael said there was result is a dry solid product, potential to create high‑value typically used for dried slicesconsumer products such as of fruit or powders,” he said. health supplements. Freeze drying preserves “With support from MDC, the flavour and nutritional we’re identifying raw ‘waste’ properties of the original materials and redirecting material, but creates a them into products which product which is light provide a return to the red weight and can be stored meat industry and, ultimately, at ambient temperatures back to the producer,” in airtight packaging for Michael said. long periods. The process “By targeting waste we can turns fresh perishables into turn low‑value problems non‑perishable products and into solutions and create saves storage, transport and economic return for the red freezing costs. meat industry, as well as “We can see some great tackling wider issues such as opportunities for this energy costs and the logistics technology and red meat,” of moving large volumes of he said. ‘waste’ from processing plants. 42