Page 73 - Ameft Journal 2021-III

TECHNOLOGY & SUSTAINABILITY Digital quality control of Arabic Gum production in Sudan Chemometric Brain is a novel digi- tized quality control and Testing- as-a-Service software based on a Near Infrared technology (NIR) that guar- antees the traceability, suitability and homogeneity of ingredients and final food products. It has signed an agree- ment with FOGA Gum, a Dutch compa- ny specialized in organic and fair-trade Arabic gum production in Sudan, to digitize their product quality and sup- ply chain. The use of Chemometric Brain en- ables Foga to digitalize quality control, facilitating sample analysis and validat- ing quality, homogeneity and trace- ability from the incoming raw materi- als to the outgoing finished product, throughout the entire Arabic gum value chain. Gum Arabic (or gum acacia) is a nat- ural gum derived from the hardened sap of the acacia tree and is mainly used as a stabilizer in the food industry. FOGA, originally from Netherlands, has invested in two production plants in Sudan to strengthen the Arabic gum value chain by shortening supply chains and produce in a more efficient and sustainable way. They work very closely with farmers in Sudan and are directly involved in planting trees and reforesting the area. FOGA offers fair prices to the pro- ducers, contributes to enhancing their skills and income by cutting middle- men, and uses spray drying techniques to produce high quality products for the global market. This agreement proves that Chemometric Brain is a useful, accessible and inexpensive solution focusing on small and medium-sized companies such as Foga, with a clear focus on innovation. Both companies share values and a social purpose, as Foga promotes fair trade and local development and Chemometric Brain seeks to democratize the use of NIR technology for quality control offering digitized and secure food quality and global supply chains and insuring sustainable food and nutrition to the coming generations everywhere. Gum Arabic (or gum acacia) is a natural gum derived from the hardened sap of the acacia tree and is mainly used as a stabilizer in the food industry. (Source: FOGA Gum) www.ameft.com AMEFT 3 2021 73