The Royal Dairy Innovation trophy and certificate are awarded for research and development in the field of dairy farming.
It goes to the most practical, relevant product or service, which is likely to be the most significant innovation for the future of dairying.
Actiphage is an innovative new test for the rapid detection of bovine TB, Johne’s disease and other mycobacterial infections. It has the potential to expedite food safety checks on milk and dairy products; revolutionise livestock disease management; and ease the burden on farmers, the industry and wider public.
Every year, Johne’s disease costs UK farmers and industry at least £13million and an increasing number of retailers are removing suppliers from their milk pool if they are not engaged in Johne’s disease testing.
Again in the UK alone, bovine TB results in almost 44,000 cattle slaughtered annually and an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £100million.
PBD Biotech’s Actiphage fits into current animal health testing practices and is the only diagnostic able to detect live mycobacteria – differentiating between infection and vaccination – that delivers results within 6 hours.
Originally developed as a tool for diagnosis of human TB, Actiphage has been optimised and developed to provide enhanced sensitivity and specificity for use in milk or blood samples.
Dairy-Tech organisers RABDF were inundated with entries for this year’s Royal Dairy Innovation Award and PBD Biotech was selected as one of three finalists alongside silage clamp specialist ARK Agriculture and animal health company Pruex Ltd.
PBD Biotech’s CEO Dr Berwyn Clarke will outline Actiphage’s patented technology and unique features to a panel of judges in the Innovation Hub at Dairy-Tech 2019. Event attendees are welcome to listen to the Award pitch, which will be taking place at 11.15am. Winners of the Royal Dairy Innovation Award will be announced later in the Innovation Hub at 3.50pm.
PBD Biotech will be exhibiting at Dairy-Tech 2019 in Hall 3, stand P41 (Floorplan, 1.8MB PDF)
