Objective The EU-28 meat processing industry generates an annual turnover of €160b, with 50% corresponding to SMEs. Over recent years, the production of sliced meat products has grown steadily, driven by increased consumer demand for ready-to-eat products, including cooked and dry-cured ham. Despite significant efforts made by processors to optimize the process, around 10% of meat is wasted during slicing, which amounts to t72,000/year of meat wasted in EU slicing lines. The presence of soft and exudative textures (PSE) in meat is responsible for a major fraction of the meat loss during slicing. On average PSE meat represents yearly costs of €180k per slicing line, and €490m/year for the EU sector as a whole. At present, meat processors do not have an effective means to address this problem.SliceWatch aims to develop a commercial solution to evaluate meat texture in-line, non-invasively, and on a piece by piece basis. Based on a scanning technology developed, demonstrated, and patented by LENZ, meat processors will be able to sort raw meat pieces according to texture, and to reassign soft textured meat to products which are less sensitive to raw meat texture, e.g. sausages, hamburgers and other specialty products. This will enable processors to increase their slicing yield by 4% to 12%, and to reduce operating costs.With the support of an approved H2020 Phase I project, LENZ successfully demonstrated the SliceWatch prototype in a pilot meat processing line and developed a business plan. The Phase II project will scale-up and validate the solution with meat processors to achieve TRL9, prior to commercialization. The project is an essential part of LENZ’s business strategy to develop industrial inspection solutions which provide cost savings for the meat processor companies. SliceWatch represents a unique business opportunity for LENZ to boost sales and access international markets, and to help our customers improve their business and achieve environmental benefits. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsagricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandrynatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model Keywords Food technology Meat processing Non-destructive testing Electromagnetic scan Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument Topic(s) SFS-08-2015 - Resource-efficient eco-innovative food production and processing Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-2-2015 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator LENZ INSTRUMENTS SL Net EU contribution € 1 212 372,88 Address CALLE SANTANDER 42-48 LOCAL 36 08020 Barcelona Spain See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 731 961,25