How does the diversification of farming methods in Europe influence the main indicators of the technological and sensory quality of chicken meat?

Summary in the original language of the document

The H2020 INTAQT project (grant agreement n°101000250) is based on the ’One Quality’ concept, which encompasses the various facets of intrinsic product quality (nutritional, safety and sensory) as well as the quality of production systems (i.e., economic, environmental and societal sustainability). Its aim is to provide the knowledge and tools needed to characterize, authenticate and improve the quality of products from the diversity of European livestock farms. It focuses on three products – beef, dairy and chicken – which account for around 65% of the economic value of animal products in Europe. Thanks to an extensive network of 90 farms in France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Poland, we have been able to assess the impact of 18 European farming systems on the intrinsic quality of chicken breast and thigh meat. The farming systems studied were both conventional and organic, and covered a continuum of practices from the most intensive to the most extensive, with the use of fast- or slow-growing genotypes (including dual-purpose strains), giving access to more or less enriched environments (including free-range rearing). We propose here to present the first results obtained for the classic indicators of meat quality such as ultimate pH, color, drip and cooking loss, proximal composition, tenderness after cooking and processing yields. These initial results will be supplemented by additional measurements of nutrients or hazardous elements, microbes and shelf life, as well as sensory analysis and consumer testing. Our long-term objective will be to develop multi-criteria quality assessment tools, as well as decision-making tools to guide the evolution towards more sustainable farming practices for the animal, the environment and the consumer.