The event was hosted by DARPA in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Barcelona and INNOVACC, the Catalan Cluster for Meat and Alternative Protein.
Experts from the sector and European companies participating in the aWISH project gathered to discuss the latest AI-driven technologies aimed at improving animal welfare throughout the production process.
The event began with a welcome from the organizers and the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Manel López.
Antonio Velarde, from IRTA, presented the latest technological innovations focused on the poultry sector, as well as their potential applications to other livestock species. He highlighted the use of “iceberg indicators”—signals that indirectly point to animal welfare issues and require further investigation. Among these, he mentioned farm mortality, with a camera prototype for detecting dead animals, and animal condemnations at slaughterhouses, which may be linked to welfare concerns. Velarde introduced AI applications such as digital cameras and vision systems based on LED lighting, which allow real-time assessment of carcass quality (bruises, lesions, colour) and, thus, enhance welfare standards.
Kenny van Langeveld (PhD candidate at ILVO) and Sandra Stojanovic (from the BioSense Institute), participants in the aWISH project, explained how they are adapting sensors to monitor both chickens and pigs. Their trials include technologies that detect proteins related to stress and injuries, providing key information to improve animal welfare.
Pol Llonch, a researcher at the Department of Animal and Food Science at the UAB (Autonomous University of Barcelona), emphasized the importance of detecting welfare indicators throughout the chain, from the farm to the slaughterhouse, and proposed the use of AI systems to routinely monitor aspects such as nutrition, health (skin and lung lesions), and animal behaviour.
The technological partners from CLK GmbH, Sarah Husain, and Jan Schulte-Landwehr, presented innovative systems that combine animal welfare, food safety, and commercial efficiency. Using 2D and 3D cameras with constant lighting (special LEDs) and advanced algorithms, they can detect footpad lesions in chickens, wing fractures, bruises larger than 30 mm, dermatitis, neck cut issues, etc.. These technologies are integrated with slaughterhouse ERP systems, allowing for homogeneous production planning. They also showcased the PigInspector system, which detects lesions in pigs.
Innotech, represented by Thomas Banhazi, is developing technology for the automatic detection of lung lesions in pigs, providing greater transparency for customers. Initial trials have been successful, and the algorithms required for its application are expected to be finalized soon.
The seminar concluded with a roundtable discussion moderated by Rosada Gili, Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare at Slaughter, with participants such as Jordi Canet from Norfrisa, Daniel Cano from Torrent i Fills, and Jordi Vendrell, Head of Veterinary Services at the Baix Ebre Slaughterhouse. Together, they debated the advantages of AI and new technologies for the industry, as well as the challenges they bring, particularly regarding the necessary investment to implement these systems. Nevertheless, there was broad consensus that these innovations are essential for improving animal welfare and optimizing production processes in future slaughterhouses.
This event marks an important step towards the modernization of the meat sector, highlighting the crucial role of artificial intelligence in enhancing quality, food safety, and animal welfare.