Case Studies

A mining company is testing in Peru a Coldblock digestion system from Canada


Mining Challenges

A mining company operating in Peru was facing challenges with their traditional sample preparation methods for mineral analysis. The process was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and resulted in significant sample loss. To address these issues, the company decided to test the Coldblock digestion system from a Canadian manufacturer.



The Solution

The Coldblock system is a microwave-assisted digestion system that uses a unique sample block to encapsulate the sample and reagents, allowing for faster and more efficient digestion. The system also minimizes sample loss and contamination.



The benefits

The mining company implemented the Coldblock system in their laboratory and compared the results to their traditional methods. They found that the Coldblock system reduced the time required for sample preparation by 70%, while also increasing the recovery of valuable minerals. Additionally, the system reduced the amount of reagents needed and eliminated the need for manual transfers, further reducing the risk of sample loss and contamination.


Conclusion

Overall, the mining company found that the Coldblock system was a cost-effective and efficient solution for their sample preparation needs. The implementation of the system led to significant savings in time and resources, as well as improved accuracy and precision in mineral analysis. The company was satisfied with the performance and reliability of the Coldblock system and has continued to use it in their laboratory operations.


A master student from University of Regina proposed a chicken blood collection system


A master student from the University of Regina proposed a solution for the anemia challenge organized by Bioactiva in Peru. The challenge aimed to find a way to efficiently collect, purify, and preserve chicken blood samples for the development of products for human consumption. The traditional method of collecting chicken blood resulted in a waste of blood that was mixed with feathers and feces. The student proposed a non-invasive blood collection system that uses a small amount of blood collected from the bird's comb and wattles, which are the fleshy protuberances on the head and neck of chickens, and a purification system to preserve the nutritional properties of the blood for human consumption.


To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system, the student conducted a pilot study with a poultry farm in Peru. The study showed that the non-invasive blood collection system was able to efficiently collect and analyze blood samples, with a yield of up to 80% of the total blood volume. Furthermore, the study showed that the purification system was able to preserve the nutritional properties of the blood and did not alter the nutritional and organoleptic parameters of the product. The student used a technique that allows to centrifuge the blood and separate it from impurities.


Based on the positive results of the pilot study, the poultry farm decided to adopt the non-invasive blood collection system and purification process in their operations. The farm reported significant savings in time, resources, and labor, as well as a reduction in the stress to the birds. The farm also started to commercialize the purified chicken blood as a source of iron for human consumption, which generated a new revenue stream.


The student's proposed non-invasive blood collection system and purification process provided a cost-effective and efficient solution for collecting, purifying and preserving chicken blood for human consumption. It was recognized as the best innovative solution in the anemia challenge organized by Bioactiva. The student has now started a small startup company to produce and sell the chicken blood collection and purification system to other poultry farms in the region.


A research-based startup from Montreal proposed a solution for salmon disease prevention


A research-based startup called Affinite Instruments, based in Montreal, proposed a solution for preventing salmon diseases in an aquaculture challenge organized by Bioactiva, titled "Improve health and disease prevention for salmon production." The company specializes in developing diagnostic tools for the aquaculture industry.


Ilender Corporation, a leading aquaculture company in the region, participated in the challenge and was facing significant challenges due to the high incidence of diseases among its salmon production, which resulted in significant losses for the company. Traditional methods of disease diagnosis were slow, labor-intensive, and often provided inaccurate results.


Affinite Instruments proposed a solution in the form of a diagnostic tool called the AquaCheck. The AquaCheck is a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tool that uses a small sample of fish blood to detect the presence of disease-causing pathogens. The tool is easy to use and provides results in minutes, allowing farmers to quickly identify and treat diseased fish.


To demonstrate the effectiveness of the SPR, Affinite Instruments conducted a pilot study with Ilender Corporation. The study showed that the AquaCheck was able to accurately detect the presence of disease-causing pathogens in fish samples. Furthermore, the study showed that the early detection and treatment of diseased fish using the AquaCheck led to a reduction in the number of fish lost to disease by 50%.


Based on the positive results of the pilot study, Ilender Corporation decided to purchase and implement the AquaCheck in their operations. The company reported significant savings in time, resources, and fish loss since the implementation of the SPR.


Affinite Instruments' SPR diagnostic tool provided a cost-effective and efficient solution for preventing salmon diseases for Ilender Corporation, which led to significant savings for the company. The company won the aquaculture challenge and Affinite Instruments was recognized as the best innovative solution provider in the competition. Ilender Corporation is now using the AquaCheck in all of its fish farms and has received positive feedback from other farmers in the region as well.


An agriculture innovation hub connects with canadian and international partners using the Fika networking platform


An agriculture innovation hub in a developing country was looking for ways to connect with Canadian and international partners to share knowledge and resources to improve local farming practices. The innovation hub was established to provide farmers with access to new technologies, training, and other resources to increase productivity and sustainability.


The innovation hub came across the Fika networking platform, a digital platform that connects agriculture and food sector stakeholders from around the world. The platform enables users to share knowledge and resources, collaborate on projects, and access funding opportunities.

The innovation hub joined the Fika platform and began connecting with Canadian and international partners in the agriculture and food sectors. The platform allowed the innovation hub to share information and resources with partners, such as new technologies, best practices, and research findings. The hub was able to access funding opportunities through the platform and collaborate on projects with international partners to improve local farming practices.


Through the Fika platform, the innovation hub was able to connect with a Canadian partner that specialized in precision agriculture and shared their expertise in this field with local farmers. This helped the farmers to have a better understanding of how to use data and technology to optimize their crop yields and reduce costs.


The innovation hub also connected with an international partner that specialized in sustainable livestock production, which helped them to improve the health and welfare of local animals and reduce the environmental impact of their operations.

As a result of these connections, the innovation hub was able to improve the productivity and sustainability of local farming practices, which in turn, helped to increase the income and livelihoods of local farmers.


The Fika networking platform proved to be a valuable tool for the agriculture innovation hub, as it allowed them to connect with Canadian and international




REST Client (Huachao Mao)