A Canberra company, PPB Technology, has developed biosensor technology that allows dairy companies to test raw milk quality on-site in three minutes.
A three-minute test for raw milk could save a third of the 150 million tonnes of milk wasted globally each year. The technology, developed by Canberra-based PPB Technology, measures levels of protease—an enzyme that can spoil finished dairy products like drinking milk.
By identifying high protease levels early, dairy companies can redirect raw milk to less sensitive products like cheese or yogurt, or apply appropriate treatment to prevent waste.
PPB Technology founder Stephen Trowell estimates the technology could prevent over 70 million tonnes of milk waste per year. "With greater awareness of protease levels, dairy companies can use the milk for less sensitive products or give it appropriate treatment to avoid waste," Trowell said. He estimates the technology could save a third to half of the milk currently going to waste.
"With greater awareness of protease levels, dairy companies can use the milk for less sensitive products or give it appropriate treatment to avoid waste." — Stephen Trowell, founder of PPB Technology
Background
The technology, called Cybertongue, originated from a CSIRO project initially designed for detecting explosive vapors and assessing wine aromas. Since its launch in 2023, Cybertongue is already in use across North America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Central Asia, and India.
Future Applications
PPB Technology plans to expand the Cybertongue platform to test for food allergens and bacterial toxins in the future, broadening its potential impact on food safety and waste reduction.