Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INTAQT (INnovative Tools for Assessment and Authentication of chicken meat, beef and dairy products’ QualiTies) Période du rapport: 2021-06-01 au 2022-11-30 Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet In Europe, the consumption of animal products, after a continuous increase since the 1970s, is stagnating or shrinking (except for poultry) and is accompanied by a growing demand in terms of ‘quality’ alongside ethical and environmental considerations linked to animal husbandry. Concerns related to animal production exist in a sector where very contrasting production models coexist in Europe. Previous research demonstrated that different husbandry systems are associated with considerable variability in environmental impacts, in animal welfare and health and in animal product composition, which, in turn, may have contrasting effects on consumer satisfaction and health. The recent changes in consumer’s expectations towards animal welfare friendly practices, naturalness, healthy products, farmer’s income and environmental impacts will foster innovative husbandry practices. These emerging trends are still not systematically evaluated scientifically, especially with regard to the sustainability of production and the intrinsic quality of the products of the different farming systems that co-exist in Europe. In this context, agri-food chain actors lack objective, robust and reliable information to meet consumer expectations in relation to the multiple aspects of the quality of livestock products. The goal of INTAQT project is to perform an in-depth multi-criteria assessment of the relationships between husbandry systems and 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. INTAQT is focusing on 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 uses a multi-stakeholder participatory approach, involving all actors in 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 the actors of the agri-food chain tools for the prediction of the intrinsic quality of animal products, for the authentication of the associated husbandry systems and finally for the multi-criteria scoring of the intrinsic quality of products. iii) promote innovative farming practices to achieve consistently and verifiably high quality, safe, healthy and tasty animal products from extensive and intensive farming systems. Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent The assessment of the safety, nutritional value and sensory features of chicken meat, beef and dairy products originating from a gradient from extensive to intensive husbandry systems is based on the measurement of various analytical traits on a large EU scale sample library. From the beginning of the project until month 18, the priority husbandry systems and quality traits have been chosen after the consultation of various actors of the food chain (farmers, processors, laboratories, retailers, consumers...). The sampling protocols have been defined and the sampling of products from the farms included into the farm network is ongoing. Half the farms were surveyed and half the samples collected. The entire sample library is expected to be completed by June 2023 and analytical traits have started to be measured on the first samples collected in early 2023.Modelling of the relationships between husbandry practices and intrinsic quality characteristics (sensory characteristics and nutritional value) has started for beef and poultry from existing databases. It will be completed when the data obtained in INTAQT are available.The development of tools for the prediction of the intrinsic quality of animal products and for the authentication of farming systems will be based on the expectations of laboratories that have been identified through online surveys and prioritized through the INTAQT multi-stakeholders groups. The data needed to build these analytical tools are being acquired from the project's commercial partners.For the development of the multicriteria scoring tools proposed, the fears, constraints and expectations of food chain actors as well as consumers have been collected and prioritized by the stakeholders involved in INTAQT. Innovative farming practices that optimize both the intrinsic qualities of the products and the sustainability and acceptability of the farming systems have been proposed in each country through consultation with stakeholders in the food chain and consumers. The first half of 2023 will be devoted to setting up a living laboratory to test the proposed practices. Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent) The INTAQT project is expected to provide scientists, food-chain actors and policy makers:- Objective data and models simultaneously assessing the safety, nutritional value and sensory characteristics of chicken meat, beef and dairy products from different European extensive and intensive farming systems. Once constructed, the INTAQT databases will be useful in answering the question of whether there are real synergies or rather trade-offs between 'good farming quality' and 'good food quality'. By objectifying the relationship between product qualities and farming systems, the project will help to better position product quality as a key element in the sustainability of livestock production systems in Europe and provide solutions and tools that can be used by the food production chain to add value to products.- Innovative tools and methodologies to determine and predict the most relevant quality characteristics of chicken meat, beef and dairy products and to authenticate the farming systems from which the products originate along the food chain. These tools will make it possible to secure supplies and take better account of quality criteria directly linked to consumer expectations. They will strengthen consumer confidence and their willingness to pay for products whose quality and origin (type of farming systems) are guaranteed.- Farming practices that improve both the intrinsic quality of chicken, beef and dairy products and the sustainability of farming systems. Thanks to the broad consultation with stakeholders in the food chain, we already have a first list of farming systems and practices that are considered promising to promote the intrinsic quality of the products while meeting societal expectations in terms of sustainability of farming. Project logo Project partners at the first annual meeting
