Tönnies passes on knowledge about Corona internationally
Rheda-Wiedenbrück, January 21.01.2021, 20 - An international research group wants to investigate why there were more corona outbreaks in meat factories around the world. On Tuesday, January XNUMXth, the participants of the project met digitally for a kick-off talk under the direction of renowned scientists from the University of Dublin. The Tönnies Group supports you as a project partner and helps develop long-term solutions for the entire industry.
The international research project is one of the largest European projects currently dealing with the specific topic of Covid-19 in meat plants. This is also noticeable in the budget made available: 1,5 million euros are being invested in the investigations.
The aim is to understand how the corona virus spreads in meat plants. Then solutions and measures are to be developed to protect companies and employees even better in the future. One work package, for example, deals with research into the extent to which the examination of wastewater in meat companies can serve as an early warning indicator for an increased infection rate. “Very sensitive analysis methods allow completely new investigation possibilities here. We look forward to the research collaboration that will directly benefit our operational processes, ”says Gereon Schulze Althoff, Head of Quality Management at Tönnies.
In addition to Germany, Ireland was also affected by corona outbreaks in several meat plants. Schulze Althoff is pleased about the scientific interest in the Tönnies hygiene concept: “The research project now also offers better international exchange. On the one hand, we can present our hygiene concept and, on the other hand, we can collect new knowledge from other countries for our companies ”. In addition to him, scientists from various universities are also involved in the project. One of them is Professor Melanie Brinkmann from the University of Braunschweig.
More information on the project "Understanding and Preventing COVID19 Outbreaks in Meat Processing Plants - Prepared for the Future (UPCOM)!" can be found at https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/gracemulcahymeatprocessing/.
