About us
Our mission
The Food Pilot offers an integrated package of services ranging from the first innovative idea to a successful end-product. The client can choose support for one, several or all of the steps in an innovation process, accompanied as desired by a project-specific package of testing, analysis and advice. Make contact for an appointment and visit our facilities. We wish you a warm welcome.
Deeply rooted in food science
Food Pilot was launched in 2011, after the Flemish Minister of Economy decided that more pilot infrastructure and technical advice was needed for the food sector. The existing "National Dairy Station" in Melle which is part of ILVO and Flanders' FOOD invested in multifunctional, semi-industrial machinery and, above all, in knowledge and well-oiled support for innovative and solution-seeking companies.
Some figures
In 2024, about 250 technological advisory actions were provided. These are intake interviews where the question is analysed, advice is provided, possibly supported by analyses, and a look is taken at how to solve the issue.
In addition, 467 pilot trials were conducted for 111 clients.
Of the 111 clients of pilot tests in 2024, 31 were new contacts. 74 clients were industrial companies, 36% of which were from abroad. In addition, 36% were SMEs. In addition, there were pilot tests for 7 agricultural companies, 3 of which were Belgian and 4 Dutch. 6 clients were knowledge institutions or companies. Finally, 20 assignments were in the context of (international) projects.
A general trend is observed towards more research work on alternative protein sources. These bring new challenges in the development of tasty, food-safe and sustainable products. The largest share of pilot tests was in the context of alternative proteins (18%), dairy analogues (17%), meat analogues (12%), and valorization of residues (10%).
Most pilot tests were requested by knowledge institutions (37%) or projects coordinated by knowledge institutions, as well as ingredient suppliers (12%) and dairy products (8%).
In 2024, more than 20,000 nutritional analyses were performed for more than 180 private companies (food companies, farmers, other labs, certification & inspection bodies, consumer organisations, kit manufacturers, pharmaceutical industry, and so on) in the context of product improvement or problem solving. Again, some 60 of these companies were new contacts.
Moreover, about 90 different items (ring tests, standards, reference series, control samples) for quality assurance were created by ILVO for 51 different customers (milk control laboratories, companies, kit producers, scientific institutions, ....).
In total, more than 300 companies are thus reached every year.
