The Irish firm Senoptica aims to gather €4 million in investments to enhance its unique sensor technology designed to tackle food waste. The innovative system utilised by Senoptica incorporates optical sensors with food-safe ink inscribed within product packaging to measure oxygen levels in modified atmospheric (MAP) encasements for food. This allows the potential for spoilage to be detected whilst simultaneously pinpointing poor packaging, thereby assisting in enhancing the longevity of fresh food’s shelf life.
Senoptica has set a target of reducing annual food waste by an impressive 11 million tonnes, equivalent to a decrease of 240 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The organisation plans to utilise the funding to enlarge its footprint in the industry, motivate more widespread adoption of their groundbreaking technology, and expand their team.
Based at Trinity College, Senoptica envisions an increase in its workforce to roughly 20 by the close of the following year. Brendan Rice, the cofounder and chief executive, stated, “With the confirmation of our first order, team expansion will be our next step. We are planning to have around 10 team members by the close of this year and hope to grow between 15 and 20 by the closure of 2025.”
This week, the company achieved a key milestone in its growth journey, receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for deploying its sensor technology in America. The company, founded in 2018 by Rice, Dr. Rachel Evans, and Dr. Steve Comby, now plans to expand operations in the UK while also launching numerous trials of its technology across the United States.
Senoptica is currently holding discussions with a UK retailer, who remains unnamed, to test its tech, as well as a European food corporation. “Our goal is to launch the product into the market by mid-year,” stated Mr. Rice. “Ireland is famous for its pharmaceutical and medtech industries, in addition to its food. However, we are not that recognised for our food tech. From a national perspective, we are trying to make a significant impact by paving the way in this field.”