ABP partakes in building the future European food system using AI and data analytics

ABP Food Group, in collaboration with Siemens and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), is spearheading innovative research to redefine the future of food production, processing, consumption, and recycling towards sustainability and health. This initiative is part of a significant research endeavor funded by the European Union, aiming to transform the traditional food supply chain from a linear to a circular bio-economy model. ABP joined the EIT Food consortium in 2017, a network comprising over 50 leading companies, research institutions, and universities, including Queen’s University, dedicated to placing Europe at the forefront of food innovation and production, enhancing its societal value. Within the framework of EIT Food, ABP is leading a project that leverages advanced 3D CT Scanning technology at its ABP Lurgan site. This technology enables precise measurement of livestock composition and characteristics in three dimensions, facilitating improvements in the sustainable production, processing, and consumption of beef and lamb. Siemens, renowned for its expertise in high-tech industries, software, and advanced 3D scanning innovations, along with TUM, a leading technical university in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning for biomedical diagnosis and robotization, are providing substantial support to this project. The collaboration aims to refine and adapt the hardware and software components of 3D CT scanning technology to digitalize a critical segment of the beef and lamb supply chain. By capturing detailed data on meat composition, shape, and structure shortly after slaughter, the project seeks to minimize waste, enhance quality and value, and improve traceability. This system will offer precise feedback to farmers on sustainable livestock rearing practices, while retailers and consumers will gain access to detailed information on food quality and taste preferences. ABP is at the forefront of the project, overseeing project management, feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, development of new butchery techniques, meat processing designs, hardware development, intellectual property protection, and software performance specifications. Siemens is tasked with evaluating technological solutions to meet ABP’s needs, contributing to system design and implementation. Additionally, TUM and Siemens are developing sophisticated AI-based software to analyze the CT scans, generating accurate composition data quickly and efficiently. Declan McDonnell, R&D Manager at ABP Food Group, highlighted the project's significance, noting the variability in meat tissue composition and how digitizing beef and lamb in the supply chain will enhance decision-making processes, leading to higher quality, consistency, and environmental sustainability. This pioneering project promises several benefits, including: - Improved breeding genetics to optimize meat production, minimize waste, and reduce feed consumption. - Enhanced animal husbandry practices to achieve earlier finishing times with optimal feed regimes, avoiding excessive fattening. - Enabled processors to tailor animal part composition to meet specific customer and consumer demands, such as fat content and portion size. McDonnell emphasized the project's role in establishing a connected data flow within a consumer-centric food system, from the farmer and processor to the consumer, facilitating the production of nutritionally optimized products.