The Food Pilot helps companies, labs, and governments with their agri-food challenges: product development, process optimisation, or troubleshooting technical production problems. Within a co-creative process we bring solutions in the form of advice, lab analyses, and/or pilot trials performed on semi-industrial processing equipment. We work strictly confidentially. The Food Pilot is a collaboration between ILVO and Flanders' FOOD. More information is available on www.foodpilot.be/en/.
In the mechanisation and automation workshop of the living lab Agrifood Technology of ILVO, technological prototypes for the agrifood sector are ideated, designed, developed, and tested in controlled conditions. An iterative development process is used; this is an agile approach with subsequent multiple cycles of (re)design and testing. Machines are designed in CAD software (Solidworks). For reverse engineering, a 3D scanner and post-processing software are used. For metalworking, lathes, milling machines, bending machines, and welding machines are available.
The ILVO Hyperspectral Technology Facility enables advanced applications in agri-food processing, such as quality control, defect detection, grading, and sorting of (raw) products. By comparing spectral and spatial data to reference measurements, we build chemometric models capable of estimating product parameters in real time. The facility hosts a range of hyperspectral and multispectral devices, including spectrometers with customisable probes, hyperspectral cameras, and FTNIRS systems suited for both solid and liquid samples.
Located within a network of real-world testing and validation environments, this facility facilitates collaboration between technological SMEs and agricultural experts. It serves as a platform for developing cutting-edge solutions tailored to address specific challenges in the sector. The space supports businesses by bridging the gap with expert advice, specialist training, and networking opportunities, ensuring innovative ideas are rigorously tested and refined.
The lab offers expertise in quality parameter determination and physical-chemical analysis for oils and fats, antioxidant activity testing (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS,...), and analysis of fat profiles and phenolic compounds. It also provides services in the development of analytical techniques in food and advice on the design of sensory tests and consumer sensory evaluation studies.
INRIA has access to a 100 m x 100 m reconfigurable outdoor facility located at AzurArena in Antibes, ideal for conducting experiments involving Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), Autonomous Ground Robots (AGRs), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The site can be equipped with a 4G/5G communication network, enabling real-time connectivity and coordination across multiple robotic platforms. Its open and adaptable layout makes it suitable for both individual and collaborative autonomous system testing.
NEF is a multidomain scientific experimentation platform at INRIA, designed to support high-performance computation, storage, and visualisation for advanced research applications. It is built on a heterogeneous parallel computing architecture, combining multiple generations of high-performance servers into a cluster-based system. The platform features high-speed network interconnects and large-capacity storage and is directly connected to the Inria Sophia interactive visualisation platform, enabling seamless data processing and graphical analysis.
Specialised facility dedicated to the microbiological analysis of food, animal feed, and water. Equipped with advanced tools for the identification and enumeration of microorganisms, the lab covers a wide spectrum of microbial analyses, including pathogens, spoilage organisms, and quality control tests. The lab also specialises in the analysis of moulds and mycotoxins, using ELISA and HPLC techniques, and offers scientific advice on HACCP implementation. The facility is fully compliant with ISO and AFNOR standards, ensuring high precision and reliability.
At INRIA, the private parking facility spans an area of 85 meters by 13 meters and is naturally enclosed by plants and trees, creating a semi-structured, forest-like environment. This makes it an ideal outdoor space for conducting development, testing, and validation experiments with Autonomous Ground Robots (AGRs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Its dynamic setting bridges the gap between controlled indoor testing and fully unstructured field environments, allowing for safe and effective experimentation under realistic outdoor conditions.
