 |
The Center |
Staff
Members Membership RSS Feeds CIFT Video Library News Archive Contact Us |
|
The Center |
Staff
Members Membership RSS Feeds CIFT Video Library News Archive Contact Us |
Special Programs...
Our City in a GardenOur City in a Garden is an urban, Toledo-based system to produce, prepare, distribute, process, and preserve healthy food products in the community, and to accomplish these ends in a manner that stresses environmental sustainability.
CIFT MembershipSince 1995, CIFT has organized and managed a membership-based consortium of food industry companies, their suppliers, and academic institutions. The goal of the consortium is to enhance the economic viability of Ohio's food and agricultural sector through technology.
Energy & Environmental ManagementEnergy and environmental management initiatives can improve the bottom line for businesses through cost reduction and alternative revenue pathways, essentially enhancing market competitiveness.
Food SafetyThis page covers food safety issues ranging from safety recalls and safe food handling practices to regulatory guidelines.
Local InitiativesCIFT Local Initiatives include the Farm to School Program, Local Food Manufacturers Program, Agritourism and the Farm to Chef Program.
NOCKThe Agricultural Incubator Foundation's Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) is a nonprofit kitchen facility designed to assist entrepreneurial efforts and expand current food-related businesses by providing access to a commercially licensed kithchen.
Northwest Ohio Energy Crop CenterThe mission of the Northern Ohio Energy Crop Center is the identification and evaluation of opportunities to involve regional growers, processors and other entrepreneurs in biofuel production.
Northwest Ohio Green Products CenterThe Northwest Ohio Green Products Center is a collaborative effort among several partnering organizations to provide the resources, technical assistance and business expertise to regional entrepreneurs or established manufacturers who currently produce, or plan to produce, green or biobased products.
USDA-ARS Technology Transfer ProgramUSDA-ARS technology transfer provides a means for moving promising technologies discovered through federal and university research into the public arena where they are developed into marketable products. USDA-ARS accomplishes this by forming partnerships with universities and private sector businesses.
In the CIFT Spotlight...
CIFT 2008 Report to IndustryA report of CIFT's 2008 programs, projects and activities Hoop HousesA CIFT hoop house feasibility study that will determine what plants are appropriate to plant and when these plants will generate the greatest economic return. Ohio Federal Stimulus Bill WebsiteAn Ohio website where parties interested in federal stimulus dollars can submit ideas. Ohio MarketMakerAn interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Ohio, providing an important link between producers and consumers. USDA Releases Beginning Farmers and Ranchers PublicationUSDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin EIB-53 (32 pp, May 2009) draws on data from annual surveys and the Census of Agriculture to provide policymakers with a better understanding of beginning farmers and ranchers, including how they contribute to U.S. agricultural production. Vertical Hydroponic Growing SystemsA high density vertical growing system designed for non-traditional production locations. The system enables plants to grow in significantly smaller spaces and in varying ground covers from concrete to parking lots.CIFT Resources...
CIFT News ArchiveA repository of past CIFT news stories... CIFT RSS FeedsSubscribe to CIFT RSS feeds... CIFT Video LibraryA collection of CIFT event videos... Contact UsThe CIFT contact page with phone numbers, email addresses and directions... Privacy PolicyThe CIFT website privacy policy...Other Resources...
Current FDA RecallsThe Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over recalls involving food and pet & farm animal feed. This page is a list of the latest FDA food recall notices. Current USDA RecallsThe Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects and regulates meat, poultry products and eggs. This page is a list of the latest USDA food recall notices. FoodSafety.govFoodSafety.gov is your source for the latest news and information on food safety issues. Grants.govGrants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal government grants. Quick Reference Guide to Growth FinancingThis MEP guide provides information on general financing options, programs, and techniques available to small and medium-sized enterprises and companies pursuing growth oriented strategies.
Attention Nonprofits...
Click the appropriate link for more details.
|
The Sweet Life in Northwest Ohio
CIFT presents a a guide to northwest Ohio candy makers and coffee roasters. View and download your guide here. |
|
CIFT and ARS Partnering for Economic Growth From field to table, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the USDA's chief scientific research agency, helping find solutions to agricultural problems affecting Americans every day. As one of the world's premiere scientific research organizations, ARS works on a $1.1 billion annual budget to ensure high-quality, safe food, and other agricultural products which sustain a competitive agricultural economy. On March 12, 2010 CIFT partnered with ARS, to host an emerging technology showcase at the Hilton Toledo/Dana Conference Center in Toledo, Ohio. The event gave attendees the opportunity to learn about advanced technologies that could potentially benefit their businesses and provide economic and job growth within the region. Emerging Technology Showcase: Partnering for Economic Growth within Food and Agriculture featured ARS technologies and projects that provide commercialization opportunities for environmental, energy and food-related businesses. ARS researchers briefed the audience on emerging technologies for biobased products, biofuels, sustainable agricultural practices, food safety/nutrition and functional food development. Notable presentations from the event are included in the links below. If your business is seeking new technologies for commercialization, ARS technologies are worth your consideration. To find out how ARS technology transfer can help your company achieve its commercialization goals, please contact CIFT for more information. The USDA Agricultural Service...
ARS Research Activities in Ohio...
Additional ARS Resourses on the CIFT website...
|
CIRMS 2010
On October 18 - 20, 2010, the 19th Annual Meeting of the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards will focus on the uses, availability, and options for ionizing radiation sources. For the past nineteen years, CIRMS has played an important role in serving as a public forum for discussion of radiation measurements and standards for industry, academia and government.
The technical program this year will consist of oral and poster presentations and three parallel working groups that address measurement and standards needs in medical applications, radiation protection and industrial applications and material effects.
For more information, please view the CIRMS 2010 brochure.
Winners Announced for Innovative Food Products
CIFT and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) have announced the award recipients of the Functional Food and Ingredient Development (FFID) fund. Functional foods are foods and food components that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. The following recipients will share in a $125,000 fund to support the development and commercialization of innovative Ohio products, and to enhance the economic performance of the agri-food sector:
AlgiSys – for partnering with 3i to develop a liposome nano-encapsulation of omega-3 algae oil for food and beverage applications.
American Dairy Association (Mideast) – for creating a more nutritious probiotic yogurt.
Around the World Gourmet – for developing a double functional gluten-free, casein-free bread for those with a special diet.
Ohio State University – for developing a prebiotic chocolate bar which reduces the absorption rate of cholesterol, and increases absorption rates of calcium and other beneficial substances.
Sensus – for partnering with Wyandot, Inc. (a snack manufacturer in Marion, Ohio) to develop a high-antioxidant/high-anthocyanin, nutritious purple corn snack food for the benefit of Ohio farmers, processors and consumers.
"The Ohio Department of Development technology division embraces new techniques and development efforts – and the Center for Innovative Food Technology exemplifies this through food and agricultural efforts," John Griffin, director of technology division, ODOD, said. "It is an honor to present these five companies with assistance to carry their concepts forward and enhance the food industry in Ohio, as well as provide consumers with nutritious products."
The winners were announced at Emerging Technology Showcase: Partnering for Economic Growth within Food and Agriculture - an event hosted by CIFT and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service on Mar. 12 at the Hilton Toledo. The event featured technologies and projects of researchers with the goal of providing opportunities for commercialization for environmental, energy and food-related businesses.
Since 1995, the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) at EISC, Inc. has provided technical solutions to companies involved in some of Ohio's largest and most economically significant industries: food production, processing, and packaging. CIFT's mission is to help members of the agribusiness sector improve their competitive position through the development and adaptation of emerging technologies, industry best practices, and novel business approaches.
The Center's staff of business advisors and food scientists have worked with hundreds of food processors, industry equipment manufacturers and suppliers, university researchers and government agencies on industry-driven projects throughout the state of Ohio and the nation. The topics addressed by these projects include food safety and quality, new product and package development, manufacturing productivity, evaluation of novel processing technologies, sensory evaluation, custom equipment design, small business development, and training.
In 2004, CIFT launched the Rural Income Enhancement Program with the mission to identify, evaluate, demonstrate, and promote growth opportunities for growers, processors, distributors, and marketers of agricultural products. Major program initiatives include development of direct marketing programs; identification, evaluation, and promotion of specialty crops; the greenhouse and bedding plant project; an expanded small business program; and renewable energy solutions.
|
CIFT, 5555 Airport Highway,
Ste 100, Toledo, Ohio 43615-7320
419.535.6000 877.668.3472 (toll-free) 419.531.8465 (fax) © 1995 - 2009 EISC, Inc. |