NUST Food Science students familiarise with Meatco’s value-addition processes

30 Aug 2019

 

Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) final year Agriculture students visited Meatco’s Windhoek Factory on 29 August 2019 to gain insight into Meatco’s various beef technological processes in the food industry. The visit also aimed to give the students an understanding of the growth of Meatco’s food processors, recent technologies in food sciences, and their principles and the application thereof.

During the visit, Meatco’s Laboratory Manager, Kalihulu Shapwa, gave a brief background on Meatco’s business model outlining how meat is value-added at the Corporation. From the time when the animal is delivered to Meatco premises up until it leaves for the local and international markets where packaging and labelling are involved.

Furthermore, the students viewed the operations in the abattoir from the slaughter floor to the de-boning section via closed-circuit television.

Meatco’s Quality Assurance Manager, Marchella Somaes, led the students through the various sections and explained the several processes and systems in place, which lead to value-addition.

“I am very pleased with the opportunity granted to the students today, this practical tour visit will go a long way and add to the students becoming Namibia's most highly skilled and motivated workers in the area of Food Technology and Value addition,” NUST Senior Lecturer of Food Science and Technology, Dr Peter George Bille said.

The tour ended with a question and answer session at which the students enquired on various aspects of the Meatco business. The students also visited Namibia Dairies in a bid to learn how that company adds value to the raw material/s used in its processes.