12/12/11
Genia Laboratory, working together with INAC, was awarded the ANII’s National Innovation Nova Prize 2011 in the Services category for the project of DNA Traceability Validation.
Precisely, INAC had been awarded the Nova Prize in 2010 for the Electronic Information System for the Beef Industry – Black Boxes (industrial traceability).
This year, Genia Laboratory developed a system for DNA validation of individual beef cut traceability together with INAC and supported by Conicyt and by the MGAP-BID Livestock Program.
This mechanism makes it possible to determine the animal from which a certain beef cut has been obtained, based on genetic analyses. This way, it is possible to validate traceability systems based on custody chains, such as the National Traceability System, by means of ear tags, electronic chips and labels.
This project will allow our country to give a qualitative leap as to the system of guarantees it offers to world meat markets, adding important value to the same by detecting at which point of the chain there might be differences and take immediate measures to correct them, thus helping to optimize resources invested.
In this Pilot Plan, in which the three institutions took part, 800 animals were sampled at 100 farms distributed in 14 departments, and at 15 slaughter plants. 2,400 genetic profiles were analyzed and results were compared against those of the National Traceability System, which showed high matching levels.
Congratulations to Genia Laboratory!
