Transaction Description:
FOOD SAFETY IS A PRIORITY GOAL FOR THE USDA NIFA SBIR PROGRAM AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY FOR OBVIOUS FOOD SECURITY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC REASONS. HAZARD ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL CONTROL POINTS (HACCP) SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED INDUSTRY WIDE TO MANAGE OPERATIONAL DISINFECTING AND CLEANING, BUT THESE APPROACHES ARE NOT INFALLIBLE. TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED THAT CAN ENHANCE CURRENT SYSTEMS AND REDUCE RISK OF FOOD-BORNE ILLNESS. BECAUSE MODULAR CONVEYOR BELTS REPRESENT THE SECOND MOST PROLIFIC CONTACT SURFACE WITHIN TYPICAL FOOD PROCESSING FACILITIES, THEY POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR CROSS-CONTAMINATION AND ARE A CHALLENGE TO EFFECTIVELY CLEAN. IN THIS PROPOSAL, HALOMINE, INC. PRESENTS HALOADD™, A NOVEL THERMOPLASTIC ADDITIVE FOR PREVENTING PATHOGEN CROSS-CONTAMINATION AND BIOFILMS ON MODULAR CONVEYOR BELT APPLICATIONS USING A POTENT RECHARGEABLE ANTIMICROBIAL PLUS ANTI-FOULING TECHNOLOGY. OUR STRONG VALUE PROPOSITION INCLUDES BROAD SPECTRUM ACTIVITY AGAINST PATHOGENS, RECHARGEABLE POTENCY, BIO-ADHESION PREVENTION, SAFE, DURABLE, AND COST EFFECTIVE. KEY OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROJECT INCLUDE: 1) OPTIMIZATION OF SYNTHESIS PARAMETERS TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM FUNCTIONALITY, 2) DEMONSTRATION OF PRODUCT SAFETY FOR FOOD CONTACT, AND 3) CONFIRMATION THAT POLYMER MATERIAL PROPERTIES ARE PRESERVED. ONCE COMMERCIALIZED, HALOADD TECHNOLOGY WILL LEVERAGE A SUBSTANTIAL MARKET OPPORTUNITY AND WILL HOLD A UNIQUE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE DUE TO ITS ABILITY TO PASS THE EPA CRITERIA FOR MAKING SUPPLEMENTAL RESIDUAL ANTIMICROBIAL CLAIMS WHEN USED TOGETHER WITH CHLORINE-BASED DISINFECTANTS REGULARLY.
