The Government-promoted Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) has claimed that a new technology developed by it can help meat exporters bring down their energy cost on the logistical side by a hefty 40 per cent.

The new technology, called modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) - specifically developed for meat exporters - allows export at -4 degrees Celsius, instead of the present -20 degree Celsius, said the institute's director N C Saha. This helps increase the shelf life of goat meat from three days to nine days now.

The shelf life of buffalo meat has improved from seven days to 13 days using this technology. "At present, meat is exported in frozen condition at -20 degrees Celsius. With the MAP technology, exporters will be able to send consignments at -4 degree Celsius.

This is a massive saving in energy cost and will hugely benefit the exporter community," Shah said today. It can be noted that beef has become the second largest forex earner for the country among the agriculture commodities after basmati rice, with 31 per cent increase in quantity and 52 per cent rise in value terms during 2013-14. As per the figures of Apeda (Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), beef exports totalled Rs 26,458 crore in 2014 and Saha said the MAP can help it increase further.

The IIP was set up in 1966 by the packaging and allied industries and the Union Commerce Ministry.