Article Abstracts | March 2008
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MEMS Technology Tackles Food and Agricultural Challenges
Photonic and MEMS solutions abound in the food and beverage industries.
by David R. Smith and David A. Gottfried, Infotonics Technology Center
The food and agriculture industry contributes significantly to the nation’s economy but often is an overlooked sector, particularly where advanced technology development is concerned. The nation is seeking significant enhancements to quality, safety and security, but consumers don’t want to see the price of food rise dramatically. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based technologies on integrated circuit chips are extremely cost-effective and allow significant gains in these areas without having a substantial effect on the pocketbooks of the consumer.
Recent collaborations between the Infotonics Technology Center in Canandaigua, and Cornell University in Ithaca, both in New York, have brought the need for advanced technology solutions for food and agriculture to the forefront. What started in 2004 as an inquiry to see whether MEMS could play a significant role has blossomed into numerous development possibilities...
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