Agri-food Competence Center for the Meat sector

Tecmeat

TECMEAT is a non-profit association that aims to increase the competitiveness and innovation of meat producing and processing companies through scientific and technological developments, providing in an integrated and sustainable way the increase of exportation and added value to products. Additionally, TECMEAT is focus on the transference of scientific and technological knowledge to the meat sector as well as participating in networks and other forms of partnerships and cooperation to increase the business investment in innovative activities.

TECHNOLOGICAL AREAS

Where we add more value

Advanced lab tests and product quality control

R&D + Innovation oriented to the development of new products and services

Training in laboratory and business environment

Technology transference through demonstration actions

Networking and cooperation at national and international level

Activities

Some tasks that characterize us

To experiment new production techniques and systems or products that can influence the characteristics of the meat and are valued by the industry or the consumer
To develop new methods to optimize processes in the meat industry
To develop innovative technologies for processing, packaging and preserving products
To develop and characterize new products
To transfer knowledge and innovation through the organization of training actions with potential partners in production and industry

To promote the study of recent technologies and process innovation
To foster technology transfer by demonstration actions
To participate in the standardization and certification of companies and products
To enhance marketing channels in the food chain
To identify potential partners who are dedicated to the different meat areas processing
To promote national brands in foreign markets
To support companies in the internationalization processes

Services

We can help

Offering advanced testing, analysis and other services to companies to answer to innovation requirements or technological and quality audits in different areas from the existing market offer

Implementing technological and quality audits to identify implicit innovation needs and support training of medium and long-term innovation strategies

Hosting, coordinate and monitoring of pilot product development projects in a pre-competitive research environment

Identification of innovation requirements generated by internationalization processes, especially in markets characterized by new demands and certification requirements

Follow-up of social and consumption trends with potential impact on meat consumption and production and its translation into prospects for innovation

Design and developing training programs and degrees (intermediate, higher and advanced) to be carried out with immersion in a business and factory environment, extending the collaborative dynamics for mobilization of human resources and new skills

Operationalization of cooperation pipelines focused on the Meat sector with the resources and activities of national and international networks

Design, organization and implementation of good practices convertible into demonstration actions for the sector

Facilities

The means to work

Microbiology Laboratory

TECMEAT microbiology laboratory is an analysis and research laboratory, oriented towards quality and safety, allowing for tests and trials, as well as the control of the finished product based on manufacturing standards and existing legislation.

Laboratory equipment’s allows physical-chemical and microbiological characterizations of food products (in particular meat) with equipment like a drying oven, horizontal autoclave, laminar flow chamber with UV, incubators, phase contrast microscope, precision and analytic balances, ceramic heating plate or a chemical hotte.

The types of laboratory tests available include the analysis of protein, fat and moisture or microorganisms such as salmonella, listeria, monocytogenes and e.coli. The production of meat products requires the control of some variables, which can endanger the safety and quality of these products. In this sense, it is essential to control physical and chemical factors such as water activity, acidity, humidity, microbiological factors and the production process itself (practices and procedures adopted).

Pilot Unit

TECMEAT pilot unit, of 500 square meters, allows testing and developing processes with safe and quality industrialization of products. In all production orders for tests or trials, the finished product is checked based on manufacturing regular standards and legislation. It is an infrastructure that simulates an entire meat processing production unit, carrying out tests and trials, product control and training of technicians. This unit consists of: