Fewer farmers and changing diets has resulted in an increasing demand for technology that can improve agricultural productivity in Japan. Where a lot of time can be saved is by switching from manual feeding of cattle to automatic feeding systems.

Denmark has one of the most productive agricultural sectors in the world and therefore there are good opportunities for Danish technological solutions on the Japanese market. The demand for mechanized, safe and efficient solutions in food production has already provided many opportunities in Japan for the Danish company One2Feed, that produces automatic feeding systems.

Feeding livestock is one of the most time-consuming tasks on cattle farms, and the cost of feeding is high. Normally feeding is done manually or with a tractor, but by optimising the feeding processes, the farm management can become more efficient and less time-consuming.

Simple and efficient feeding system

The Danish company One2Feed has made a simply and efficient automatic feeding mixer and feeding system, which gives the farmer reliability and flexibility. One2Feed is a very robust system, that includes the ability of fully automatic filling and mixing off various feed elements, pushing the feed on the feed table and feeding.

The systems are made in stainless steel, fibre glass and other corrosion resistance materials. The software is managed via a wireless internet connection from a regular computer and the feeding systems gives the farmer great flexibility to ensure the specific feed for milking cows, heifers and calves. The software ensures resilience in the way that it is possible to make different feeding recipes and generate feeding exactly as ordered, 24/7 365 days a year.

In average 130 litres of fuel are saved each day and the farmer now only uses 1 hour a day on the feeding compared to 5 hours before

Time and resources are saved

In Hokkaido, Japan, the fully automated feeding mixer and feeding system from One2Feed has been operating at a large dairy farm with 700 cows since day one. The feed mixer has a weighing system providing high precision and minimal waste of feeding material. This ensures that the cows receive the feed necessary to produce a high level of milk quality and quantity.

By implementing One2Feeds automatic feeding system, significantly less resources can be obtained per day per produced litres of milk. In average 130 litres of fuel are saved each day and the farmer now only uses 1 hour a day on the feeding compared to 5 hours before.

 

Food safety is an ever-growing focus area for both consumers and food producers all over the world. With specialised cleaning systems from KEN HYGIENE SYSTEMS, food producers can save both time, water and energy while ensuring top levels of hygiene.

A Norwegian food group faced a challenge in cleaning their smoked sausage production facilities in Norway. The production site consists of smoking racks with a lot of tricky edges. It was therefore both challenging and time consuming for the company to manually wash and clean the racks to ensure the highest possible hygienic safety.

It can take up to one hour to wash one rack manually. It takes up to 100+ litres of water and also involves an employee standing in a humid, warm environment with safety clothing due to protection from chemicals and aerosols. Furthermore, it is difficult to ensure that the manual cleaning is done uniformly.

Customised automated cleaning

The Danish company KEN HYGIENE SYSTEMS specialises in automated cleaning solutions and with their KEN Equipment Washers (EW) they have helped to heighten the hygiene level at the production facilities at many food production facilities throughout the world.

With a background in the health sector, pharmaceuticals and life science industries, KEN HYGIENE SYSTEMS offer a wide range of other high-level cleaning solutions to food industries, which have the most rigid hygiene requirements.

After the implementation it takes 5-8 minutes and approx. 30 litres are used

The KEN Equipment Washers are standard machines, but can be made with customised equipment, which made it possible to meet the customer’s need of washing 15 racks per hour. During the final rinse with clean water it is possible to rinse with water temperatures above 85 degrees Celsius insuring high hygiene and if needed, the wash frame can be programmed to wash intensively in critical areas.

Saving energy and environmentally friendly

The washing process with the KEN Equipment Washers is designed to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and gentle. Before the implementation of KEN HYGIENE SYSTEMS, 100+ litres of water were used, and it took up to one hour to was it manually. After the implementation it only takes 5-8 minutes and approx. 30 litres of water are used.

The system is completely sealed when washing, which ensures that the heat is constant and thus results in reducing energy consumption and ensuring a safe working environment without the spread of chemicals on the production site.

The Danish company, DLF, has launched a line of new forage grasses that will considerably increase yield per cow due to its digestibility and decrease the environmental footprint of livestock production.

One of the largest challenges in the food industry is the emission of greenhouse gasses and stakeholders in the industry are working eagerly to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. Especially in the meat- and dairy production solutions are needed to increase the productivity while reducing methane emissions. One key to this is having the correct, climate friendly feed solutions in livestock production.

Higher yield and lower emissions with robust forage grasses

The Danish company, DLF, is a global leader in plant breeding, grasses and feed solutions. They have succeeded in developing high-performance, robust forage grasses with a significantly better digestibility of the plants’ fibres which can deliver a high feed yield in the form of biomass and protein in the grassland for several years.

Using forage grasses with high digestibility for the pasture, milk production has increased by 0.25 litres per day

Using forage grasses with high digestibility for the pasture, milk production has increased by 0.25 litres per day per cow for each percent higher fibre digestibility in the grass. DLF’s plant breeders have increased fibre digestibility in grass, so the new top varieties have up to 8% higher fibre digestibility than standard varieties. This gives the cow a higher energy intake in grass and results in a higher milk yield per day, which provides a more sustainable production in terms of earnings and climate. At the same time, methane emissions are reduced per capita produced unit of meat or milk.

Genetics and animal health as a decisive factor

At the animal level, the climate impact is affected by the digestibility, quality and composition of the feed. Improved genetics and animal health also contribute to a more efficient conversion of feed into animal products, reducing the emission intensity at animal level. As a result, the same amount of milk or meat can be produced with fewer cows.

One of the many causes to the staggering amounts of food lost and wasted globally is flawed packaging. When a fault catches the consumer’s eye, food products are often rejected – right at the end of their value chain. The top 5 packaging failures are migration/leaching, contamination, adhesion/sealing, material defects and labelling failures.

TriVision in Denmark is solving the problem with vision technology. Every year, the technology saves 10,000 tons of food waste across more than 25 countries by detecting packaging defects such as leaching, contamination, faulty seals, material defects and incorrect labelling.

A combination of cameras and advanced software identifies errors on the line at an early stage. The vision technology shows flaws in food products, packaging or labels are immediately detected and production can be adjusted. The result is significantly less food waste, not least because product recalls are avoided. Manufacturers can then resolve the problem before expensive damage occurs. At the same time, the technology collects data, allowing food companies to optimise production and make it much more sustainable.

Every year the vision technology saves 10.000 tons of food waste across more than 25 countries

Fewer stops with vision technology

One of the companies that uses TriVision’s vision technology is Arla Foods. The objective is to ensure flaws in butter packaging, for example, do not hamper the quality of the butter inside. After implementing the technology, Arla has experienced fewer and shorter quality-related production stops. Customer complaints have fallen at the same time.

Immediate detection of product, packaging and labelling faults results in reduced processing waste and fewer product recalls. At the same time, the technology collects key performance data, which food companies can use to optimise their production and the sustainability of their business.

Fish and shellfish are Greenland’s most important natural resource. To keep stocks in balance, sustainable fishing is essential, along with ensuring minimal waste of the caught fish.

At Royal Greenland, the production and innovation team continuously explore new opportunities to optimise yield. This includes taking part in research projects with academic partners.

Thanks to these efforts, the fishing company has successfully reduced waste from its catch of Greenland halibut – a fish highly appreciated for its snowy-white meat and high content of omega-3 fatty acids.

There is close to zero waste in the production as almost everything from the Greenlandic halibut is used

Many options, low waste

As the world’s largest supplier of Greenland halibut, it is particularly important to Royal Greenland that as much as possible is utilised for human consumption. Today, there are many options for consumers to choose from.

The fish are either sold whole or cut into fillets, loins or portions. As for the heads, tails and frills, these are sold mainly to Asia, where especially the frills are a delicacy in Japanese sushi. Greenland halibut is also smoked and marinated.

The Greenland halibut is also a fish with high utilization as it contains very few bones and all the meat is distributed where it is appreciated the most.

Every third banana on the planet is produced in India. For many years, though, high post-harvest losses on the farms were the reason why only around two thirds of the produced fruit actually reached consumers.

Since the Danish engineering company Danfoss launched a task force with the Confederation of Indian Industry, things have changed.

The task force was set up to address the challenges of food loss, with a particular focus on bananas. An investigation of the banana supply chain revealed three major issues: a lack of agricultural practices at the pre-harvest stage, poor post-harvest management and a disconnect with the market.

Global cooling expertise

Danfoss used its global cooling expertise to develop two interventions: pre-cooling the newly harvested bananas to extend their life and quality and ripening chambers to keep the bananas at the right temperature on their way to consumers.

Cooling technology reduces banana wastage by almost 20% and doubles the farmers’ income

The introduction of a cooling technology has proven to be a game changer for Indian banana farmers. Not only has it reduced banana wastage by almost 20%. Farmer incomes have also more than doubled.

And, because the bananas keep fresh for longer, the farmers have now started an export adventure to Europe.

The value of knowledge transfer

Before the task force got to work, farmers were not aware of the need for post-harvest care. Their main priority was to increase their production. Today, they are using post-harvest management techniques to reduce losses and get better prices for their crop. The benefits of knowledge transfer are great.

With their cooling technology, Danfoss does not only contribute positively to counteract food loss and waste in the value chain, but also on SDG 2 to ensure safe access to food for all.

A third of all food loss occurs post-harvest – on the journey from the producer to market. Primary causes include poor storage facilities and transport delays. The varying storage requirements of perishable foods are another complicating factor. Fruits such as bananas and blueberries, for example, require quite different conditions to stay fresh in transit.

The Danish company Maersk Container Industry (MCI) has the solution to all needs – in the shape of refrigerated containers and refrigeration machines for food transportation by road or sea.

Controlled ripening and ageing

Using MCI’s Star Cool CA (for high respiring produce) and Star Cool CA+ (for low respiring produce) technology, shipping companies can secure optimal conditions for all kinds of fruit and vegetables during transport. The controlled atmosphere inside the containers manages ripening and ageing, slowing fruit metabolism and delaying the onset of decay.

The internal atmosphere of the containers is monitored and controlled during transit to optimize the ripening process and ensure cold treatment protocols are followed. So, when the products arrive at their destination, they are still in peak condition. That means fewer losses for growers and exporters alike.

Star Cool provides optimal conditions for fruit and vegetables during transport. That means fewer losses for growers and exporters

New market opportunities

Furthermore, MCI’s new remote monitoring solution Sekstant™ Global Guidance gives shipping companies direct access to data about conditions inside the container during transport, without having to rely on a third-party provider.

The Star Cool CA and CA+ technology is adding up to 34 days to transit times, without damaging the quality of the perishables increasing the opportunities to reach new markets.

All too many of the fresh salads, ready meals and sliced vegetables displayed in supermarket chiller cabinets never reach consumer households. Inadequate packaging is to blame. Because, when a fog of condensation appears on the clear film wrap, food products rapidly lose their appeal.

According to the UK organisation WRAP, up to 40% of all green convenience food is thrown directly in the bin, partly due to condensation in the packaging. The world’s only full-service emulsifier and stabiliser company, Palsgaard has used its expertise in polymers to come up with a solution: a water-based, anti-fog coating that keeps condensation transparent.

Made from 100% plant-based materials and produced in a CO2-neutral production plant, the coating could hardly be more sustainable

Rather than accumulating as large drops, the coating ensures that the condensed water forms a thin, transparent film. That means the chilled food under the film wrap stays looking as fresh and desirable as ever – so much less goes to waste.

Sustainable credentials

Made from 100% plant-based materials and produced in a CO2-neutral production plant, the coating – called Einar® 1122 – could hardly be more sustainable. With its properties, the anti-fog coating is a new opportunity to cut global food waste.

A third of the world’s food goes to waste – equivalent to around 1.3 billion tons a year – and the costs get higher at every step along the food value chain. That means, food waste by retailers and consumers are the most expensive of all.

It also used to be the most difficult waste to reduce as it requires change in consumer habits.

Danish company Too Good To Go has found a way to help consumers change their behaviour easily – by developing a user-friendly app that connects consumers with unsold food from shops and restaurants.

A marketplace for surplus food

The app is a total win-win. Consumers can buy surplus food that would otherwise go to waste at a discount price. Retailers can reduce their waste and gain access to potential new customers, who try their food.

The surplus food ranges from the fresh bread that bakeries have not sold during the day to unsold supermarket groceries or restaurant food. All perfectly edible.

300 million meals across Europe

Since Too Good To Go started up in 2016, 330 million surplus meals have been saved from shops and restaurants all over the world. It took six years to reach the first 100 million meals saved, while the next 100 million meals were saved 5 times faster, in under 1.5 years. This shows a clear indication of the company’s exponential growth and global leadership in the industry.

 

From 2016 to 2024, 95 million users have saved more than 330 million surplus meals

In 2023, Too Good To Go increased its registered users by 21 million and welcomed around 72.000 new business partners; an incredible accomplishment to help reduce impact on the environment of Too Good To Go’s community. Today, there are over 90 million registered users and 155.00 active business partners across 17 countries.

Avoiding food waste is not just about eliminating quality issues and over-production. It’s also about seeing the opportunities in residual products. Danish organic bakery company Jalm&B is exploiting this potential through inspiring partnerships and innovative craftsmanship.

In collaboration with other food companies, Jalm&B has launched several exciting initiatives to avoid food waste. One of them is called ‘Genbrød’ – which roughly translates to Re-bread.

From beer to bread and back again

Here, the company receives surplus golden roasted hazelnuts from the Jacobsen brewery, which are then recycled in bread. At the same time, the brewery uses surplus bread from Jalm&B to produce its new BRØL beer, which was served at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen in 2019.

Jalm&B focuses on everyday opportunities to reuse raw materials that would otherwise go to waste

In another collaboration with Amass Restaurant in Copenhagen, Jalm&B’s unsold bread has been upcycled in a recipe for bread ice cream.

High-quality reuse

Jalm&B is constantly looking for new partnerships to reuse raw materials in everyday foods and beverages. The goal is always to create tasty, high-quality products that make good sense – commercially and sustainably.