Module A - Pilot and Demonstration Chains

Q-PorkChains has integrated its chain oriented piloting and demonstration activities in the horizontal module A. Nine pilot chains and four demonstration chains act as real-world laboratories and integrate research with 'on the ground' validation. In addition, module A will ensure an efficient experience exchange between participating small, medium and large companies.

Module coordinator

Prof. Dr. Brigitte Petersen

Institution:	Grenzüberschreitende Integrierte Qualitätssicherung
Department:	Vorstand
Address:	Katzenburgweg 7-9
City and zipcode:	D-53115 Bonn
Country:	Germany
Website:	www.giqs.org
Email:
Phone:	++49(0)228-73 28 21
Fax:	++49(0)228-73 65 15

Pork products are produced in very heterogeneous chains and network structures in Europe. Research that aims at providing an innovation impulse for entire food chains has to pay special attention to this fact.

Addressing application oriented research on chain aspects together with mostly legally independent organisations is a major challenge. A multitude of players, mainly SMEs from a variety of disciplines along pork chains have to be involved when preliminary results or demonstrated research findings are to be validated on a chain level.

Four Pilot chains have been outlined. Starting in 2008, they will implement and validate first research results on

Inter-organisational quality management in regional pork chains (Erzeugergemeinschaft Osnabrück in Germany)
Information management in pork chains (Group Glon in France)
Logistics optimisation at the interface between slaughter and meat processing (Vion in the Netherlands and Germany)
The routine use of newly developed rapid methods for animal health, animal welfare and food safety (Pigchamp Pro in Spain)

The thematic focus of five additional Pilot chains and four additional demonstration chains will be determined in the course of the project. 2.25 Mio. € of the project budget have been reserved for testing the most promising innovations deriving from the project.

Industry partners will be invited to become a chain coordinator through competitive calls in 2009 and 2010.

The diversity of involved pilot and demonstration chains will ensure significant visibility of project activities and results all over Europe during and after the implementation of Q-PorkChains.