The step from research phase to implementation of technological innovations in companies is sometimes too big or too complicated, also because certain socio-economic factors are not taken into account or known.
This ERDF project will create a food-water testing ground for the AGF sector. This experimental garden will consist of a new building with containment level 2 (this new building is not part of this project). In the food-processing area, modular process lines will be set up on a pilot scale. This will make it possible to test out innovations on different unit operations (washing, cutting, etc.) and then evaluate their impact as a function of final product quality (effect on shelf life with desired organoleptic qualities and food safety), hygienic design of the process line and water and energy consumption. In the water treatment room, incoming and outgoing water will be able to be treated with available pilot infrastructure for water treatment. In this living lab, it will therefore be possible to identify the economic, environmental (sustainability) and social impact (employment) of the various technologies.

Around this living lab, a multidisciplinary network will be developed around all the various expertises present in the (academic) research world as well as in the practice centres and the business world (processing sector, manufacturers of equipment, sensors and automation) around AGF processing and water treatment.