Pilot and demonstration activities

The research and technology developments will be completed by applied research in pilot chains and demonstration activities. These are core elements in Q-PorkChains which focus on the involvement of the industry and especially on Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in testing and demonstrating innovations and new technologies.

Addressing application oriented research on chain aspects together with mostly legally independent organisations is a major challenge of Q-PorkChains. A multitude of players 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.

Nine pilot chains and four demonstration chains act as real-world laboratories and integrate research with 'on the ground' validation.

Four pilot chains have been outlined. Starting in 2008, they will implement and validate first research results. The topics include:

• Pilot chain 1: Use of management tools based on Quality Management principles
  Business partners: EGO, Chainfood, Qualitype
  Research partner: University of Bonn
  Coordination: GIQS e.V. 
• Pilot chain 2: Improvement of the exchange and use of quality relevant information in a pork production chain
  Business partners: Group Glon, Chainfood
  Research partners: University of Bonn, Wageningen University
  Coordination: GIQS e.V.
• Pilot chain 3: Use of rapid methods (e.g. dipstick test for positive Acute Phase proteins) for animal health, animal welfare and food safety
  Business partner: PigChamp Pro
  Research partner: University of Bonn
  Coordination: GIQS e.V.
• Pilot chain 4: Evaluation of newly developed logistic concepts for a match of production systems and market segments
  Business partner: Vion Food Group
  Research partner: Wageningen University
  Coordination: GIQS e.V.