Maddison’s award project sets out to determine the ideal oxygen concentration in modified atmosphere packing (MAP) to maintain the red colour consumers prefer while still keeping lamb meat tender. She will be working with a consumer taste-testing panel to gather information on tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall eating quality.
“The meat processing industry has invested heavily in MAP technology, so we will be testing whether decreasing the oxygen content within the packaging will improve the taste and tenderness of the lamb meat, while still maintaining the cherry red colour that consumers prefer," Maddison says.
“I hope the research findings will greatly benefit the industry and can be widely adopted."
The Science and Innovation Awards are run by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to encourage young scientists, researchers and innovators with original projects that aim to keep Australia’s rural industries sustainable and profitable.