Project: INnovative Tools for Assessment and Authentication of chicken meat, beef and dairy products’ QualiTies

2021-06-01 – 2026-10-31

Abstract

Agri-food chain actors lack objective, robust and reliable information to meet consumer expectations in relation to the multiple aspects of intrinsic quality of livestock products from the various European husbandry systems. The goal of INTAQT project is to perform an in-depth multi-criteria assessment of the relationships between husbandry systems and intrinsic quality traits of animal-sourced products. This will be achieved through the development of quality assessment and authentication tools, to provide science-based decision support for policy makers, industries, farmers and consumers as well as develop means to improve husbandry practices complying with high quality of animal products and sustainability of production, defined as the "One Quality" of products. INTAQT will focus on unprocessed and processed ready-to-eat chicken meat, beef, and dairy products stemming from a gradient of extensive to intensive husbandry systems from a wide variety of European countries. The project will use a multi-actor participatory approach, involving all actors of the agri-food chains from farmers to consumers, scientists, certification bodies, policy makers and citizens. The challenges addressed are to: i) develop comprehensive models quantifying the impact of husbandry systems on quality traits related to product safety, nutritional value and sensory features, ii) co-construct with agri-food chain actors rapid and cost-effective innovative and practical analytical tools for the prediction of the intrinsic quality of livestock products and authentication of the associated husbandry systems, iii) co-construct with agri-food chain actors, multi-criteria scoring tools of the intrinsic quality of products, and iv) using all these developed tools, promote innovative husbandry practices (approved by agri-food chain actors) to achieve consistently and verifiable excellent quality, safe, healthy and tasty animal-based products from both extensive and intensive husbandry systems.