Biosecurity is paramount when transporting livestock across borders. Should disease break out, the economic consequences would be dire for any livestock-exporting nation.

In Denmark, the Danish Veterinary & Food Administration, agricultural industry and scientific institutions collaborate closely to protect the millions of live pigs that are exported each year. Their role is to adopt measures, develop recommendations for farmers and adjust contingency and action plans to prevent the spread of African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, for example.

One preventive measure is the DANISH Transport Standard (DTS), which covers livestock hauliers, collection centres, exporters and the cleaning and disinfection stations for all transport vehicles that enter Denmark from abroad.

Approved DTS hauliers are required to use DTS cleaning and disinfection stations before loading and transporting herds that have been certified according to the DANISH Product Standard.

According to Danish law, all pig and cattle transports must be registered in the Central Husbandry Register. This transport data is then merged with a central database, which collates washing and disinfection certificates, to verify DTS compliance.

Central register for livestock transport

According to Danish law, all pig and cattle transports must be registered in the Central Husbandry Register. This transport data is then merged with a central database, which collates washing and disinfection certificates, to verify DTS compliance.

If vehicles have entered countries identified as high risk or are unable to document their route over the previous seven days, strict quarantines are imposed before they are allowed to approach a herd.

As wild boar poses a risk of African swine fever infections, a fence along the Danish border ensures no wild boar can enter the country – another important step in risk minimisation.

When food manufacturers send samples to external laboratories for microbial analysis, they often face long waiting times — sometimes up to a week — before receiving critical results. In a fast-moving industry where food safety, shelf life and brand reputation are on the line, this delay can compromise decision-making and slow down production.

Moreover, traditional cultivation methods are not equipped to detect the full range of microorganisms present in food and processing environments, leaving manufacturers without the complete microbial picture needed for thorough quality control.

In-house metagenomic testing reduces result time to under 12 hours

To address these challenges, Danish microbiology specialist ISI Food Protection has launched the platform OMNi Track Pro®, which enables food producers to perform in-house metagenomic analysis. This comprehensive approach identifies bacteria, yeasts and moulds through DNA sequencing — offering a complete and precise view of the microbial risk.

OMNi Track Pro® helps manufacturers establish their own on-site microbial testing facilities, reducing the turnaround time for results from several days to less than 12 hours.

The key purpose of OMNi Track Pro® is to help manufacturers establish their own on-site microbial testing facilities, thereby reducing the turnaround time for results from several days to less than 12 hours.

ISI Food Protection not only delivers the hardware and software needed for the setup, but also advises on lab design, workflow integration, microbial classification and data interpretation. User-friendly tools and expert support ensure that manufacturers can take full control of their microbial monitoring.

Faster risk response and better product safety

With faster and more detailed microbial insights, food producers are able to take proactive action to reduce risks, ensure food safety, and minimise production downtime. By gaining full control of testing in-house, they also reduce reliance on external laboratories and protect their brand reputation through rapid, evidence-based decisions.

OMNi Track Pro® empowers food manufacturers to make safer, faster and smarter choices — for the benefit of both their operations and the consumers who trust their products.

Ensuring consistent food safety and quality is essential in the global meat industry. Traditional quality control methods often rely on manual inspection, which is not only time-consuming but also vulnerable to human error and inconsistency.

For large-scale meat producers, the challenge lies in meeting strict safety standards while improving efficiency and minimising food waste — all without compromising product quality or traceability.

AI-driven image analysis ensures accuracy and efficiency

As the largest meat processing company in Europe, Danish Crown has implemented artificial intelligence to automate and enhance quality control across its production lines. By integrating AI-powered image recognition and machine learning, the company can continuously monitor key product characteristics such as colour, texture and fat distribution. Cameras and sensors capture real-time images of each meat product, and AI models analyse the data for any deviations.

The AI system enables rapid, objective assessments and real-time adjustments, significantly reducing food waste and improving process efficiency

The AI system enables rapid, objective assessments and real-time adjustments, significantly reducing food waste and improving process efficiency. Additionally, advanced equipment inspects raw materials — such as metal, plastic and paper — to detect and eliminate foreign objects before they enter production. Automatic image storage also improves traceability and supports follow-up procedures in case of quality deviations.

Smarter production with less waste and stronger consumer trust

By ensuring consistent food safety and quality standards, AI technology helps Danish Crown optimise production, reduce food waste and strengthen consumer confidence in the safety and quality of its meat products.

This shift from manual to digital inspection has enabled Danish Crown to deliver safer, higher-quality meat while meeting growing demands for transparency, sustainability and operational performance in the meat industry.

All meat producers must document the shelf life and food safety of their products. However, meeting the diverse and growing demands from customers, third-party auditors and food safety authorities can be a complex task – particularly when documentation must be both reliable and readily accessible.

To address these expectations, food companies need easy-to-use tools that can support internal quality systems while meeting global standards for food safety and shelf-life assessment.

Predictive models support shelf-life determination and HACCP compliance

In response to these needs, the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI) has developed a predictive model platform – DMRI Predict – in close collaboration with the Danish meat industry. The platform provides intuitive, user-friendly tools for assessing microbiological and sensorial spoilage as well as documenting shelf life and food safety in meat and meat products.

The model collection is based on extensive data from systematic shelf-life and challenge tests, and is continuously updated with new models to reflect current production and safety requirements. Authorities around the world now accept the use of predictive models as part of the HACCP programme in food manufacturing facilities. For instance, the American Food Safety and Inspection Services specifically reference DMRI Predict in their guidelines.

DMRI Predict is free to use and openly accessible at DMRIpredict.dk, enabling producers to evaluate product safety without needing specialised software or extensive in-house modelling expertise.

more than 2,000 registered users around the world rely on DMRI Predict to document and manage the safety of their meat products

Trusted worldwide to ensure meat safety and extend shelf life

Today, more than 2,000 registered users around the world rely on DMRI Predict to document and manage the safety of their meat products. The platform supports the industry’s efforts to deliver safe, high-quality products, while improving operational efficiency and supporting compliance with international food safety standards.

With its high level of versatility, reliability and robustness, DMRI Predict plays a vital role in safeguarding meat quality and ensuring shelf-life accuracy – benefiting both producers and consumers.

A united effort between Danish farmers and authorities is setting new standards in animal health. Through the National SPF Programme, Denmark tackles pig diseases with transparency and shared responsibility – protecting both animals and global food safety. 

Healthy animals are the foundation of safe food. Across the world, livestock diseases challenge food safety, animal welfare and climate efficiency. When pigs fall ill, production drops, mortality rises and resources are wasted – a form of food loss before it even reaches the consumer. One of the biggest threats in pig farming has been Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a highly contagious virus that can spread through the air or between farms. Infected herds require more treatment and often more antibiotics, which undermines both sustainability and trust in food safety. For years, many farmers hesitated to invest in longterm solutions, fearing that even cleaned herds would be quickly reinfected. 

A national system built on partnership and prevention

Denmark has addressed this challenge through developing a unique, collaborative system to tackle PRRS and other porcine pathogens: The National SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) Programme. The initiative was driven by the farmers, represented by the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, working closely with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration to implement new regulations and biosecurity standards.  

Under the SPF system, herds are categorised and monitored based on their health status. A new regulation requires that all pig herds – not only those already in the SPF network – are monitored for PRRS on an ongoing basis. Transparent reporting means every herd’s health status is publicly available, allowing producers and buyers to make informed decisions. At the heart of the SPF system is also biosecurity. Farms are designed with entry rooms where staff change clothes, wash hands and disinfect footwear, ensuring that no infection is carried inside. 

Crucially, this is not a topdown initiative. Farmers work together in local clusters to plan coordinated eradication efforts and share costs. By taking ownership of the process, they have built a strong, producerdriven model supported by clear public guidelines. 

This joint approach has delivered impressive results. The number of PRRSfree herds that become infected each year has fallen from 7% in 2021 to just 3% in 2024

Clear results for pigs, producers and the planet

This joint approach has delivered impressive results. The number of PRRSfree herds that become infected each year has fallen from 7% in 2021 to just 3% in 2024. Healthier pigs mean more efficient production, reduced antibiotic use and higher welfare standards. International buyers now actively use the Danish system to source pigs from herds with verified high health status, strengthening Denmark’s reputation as a supplier of safe, sustainable food products. 

Through close collaboration between farmers and authorities, Denmark has created a system that protects animal health, prevents food loss and sets new benchmarks for food safety – demonstrating how working together can raise standards for the entire industry. 

Chefs worldwide are constantly exploring new ways to refine flavour and create memorable dining experiences. While traditional beef breeds dominate the premium segment, the full potential of older dairy cattle often goes unnoticed, despite offering rich marbling and deep flavour.

Danish Crown’s MASTERPIECE 1887 answers this need with a selection of premium beef that combines tradition, expertise, and exceptional taste. Drawing on more than a century of Danish meat craftsmanship, the range is based on carefully selected cuts from mature dairy cattle known for their flavour and texture.

Each masterpiece is hand-selected, matured through hanging, dry ageing or vacuum techniques, and sorted by marbling to meet chefs’ precise needs

As the world’s leading exporter of pork, Europe’s fifth largest beef exporter and the biggest global supplier of organic meat, Danish Crown has access to an exceptional variety of raw materials. This ensures that only the most outstanding cuts are chosen for the exceptional selection.

Each masterpiece is hand-selected, matured through hanging, dry ageing or vacuum chefs’ precise needs. Traditional hanging methods and careful maturation enhance tenderness and bring out the full flavour potential of the meat techniques, and sorted by marbling to meet.

MASTERPIECE 1887 is already used by top restaurants that value both taste and craftsmanship. With its rich character and consistent quality, it gives chefs the tools to express creativity and deliver truly elevated dining experiences.

Plastic biomedia from MUTAG may look simple on the surface. Put in motion, they have the power to keep land-based fish farms healthy and clean.

Excellent water quality is vital to fish health and growth in a closed-loop production system, where even a low level of pollutants can have critical consequences. In the search for reliable filtration technology, a small plastic disc has proven to be a highly efficient solution.

Developed by Danish experts in biological wastewater treatment at MUTAG, the disc – or biochip – is the heart of a so-called moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) and can help eliminate pollutants in minutes. Today it is used in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) around the world.

Biomedia in motion

True to its name, the MBBR keeps the biochips in constant motion, enabling them to capture harmful pollutants from fish waste on their surface. Oxygen then catalyses the process that converts pollutants into non-toxic compounds, leaving the water biologically clean and ready for return to the fish tank.

Compared to the biomedia used in a conventional fixed bed bioreactor, the biochip’s surface area is five times greater – perfect for microbes to settle on

The porous structure of the MUTAG Biochip™ gives it a particularly large surface. This is the key to its efficiency. Compared to the biomedia used in a conventional fixed bed bioreactor, the biochip’s surface area is five times greater – perfect for microbes to settle on.

Savings in size and energy

Consequently, RAS water can be effectively cleaned using comparatively few biochips in an MBBR with a space-saving design. The accompanying reduction in energy consumption is a welcome advantage, cutting costs and improving the carbon footprint of fish production.

Due to their continuous movement in the bioreactor, the biochips are self-cleaning and rarely need to be replaced. According to MUTAG, many are still going strong after 15 years in the water.

A clean-water leader

Over several decades, MUTAG has built a strong international presence with exports to 65 markets. Here, land-based fish farms benefit both from the company’s water purification expertise and biomedia in virgin or recycled plastic.

MUTAG also provides solutions for the food and beverage sector, textile manufacturers and municipal water treatment. The vision is a world where clean water is accessible to all.

In Tanzania, malnutrition remains a key concern, particularly among children. The country faces multiple challenges related to malnutrition—undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising obesity rates.

Around 30% of children under the age of five suffer from stunting, while iron and vitamin deficiencies impact their cognitive and physical development. Additionally, the average annual milk consumption per capita is only 62 litres, far below the FAO-recommended 200 litres. Limited access to affordable, nutrient-rich dairy products intensifies the problem, particularly for low-income households.

Fresh and fortified yoghurt

As part of a three-year project by the GAIN Nordic Partnership, with Arla Foods Ingredients as a leading partner, Danish expertise in dairy production has helped to improve nutrition in Tanzania. Established in 2021, the partnership brought together Novonesis, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and Tanzanian dairy company Galaxy Foods to develop Kilimanjaro Fresh Fortified—a locally produced, nutrient-rich yoghurt designed to address the country’s pressing nutritional challenges.

It is the first-ever yoghurt in the Tanzanian market formulated to combat common deficiencies, including vitamin A, B12, and zinc, while offering a nutritious and appealing option for children

It is the first-ever yoghurt in the Tanzanian market formulated to combat common deficiencies, including vitamin A, B12, and zinc, while offering a nutritious and appealing option for children. It is developed through a co-creation approach, ensuring the product meets local taste preferences and remains economically viable for all stakeholders in the value chain.

Improving nutrition and strengthening the dairy sector

Beyond its nutritional benefits, Kilimanjaro Fresh Fortified contributes to, promoting sustainable dairy production, and fostering economic growth. The project not only enhanced children’s health but also strengthened Tanzania’s dairy sector by stimulating demand for locally sourced milk. The yoghurt is distributed through retail channels and directly to schools, ensuring accessibility for low-income families.

By offering an affordable, fortified dairy solution, Kilimanjaro Fresh Fortified helps combat malnutrition and contributes to a healthier future for Tanzania’s children. Furthermore, the fortified yoghurt standard has been officially approved by the Tanzanian authorities, making it available for all dairy producers in the country to use.

 

Read more about the partnership here: GAIN Nordic Alliance

The responsible business of Danish blue gold.

Mussel harvesting in Denmark’s Limfjord is a centuries-old tradition that comes with a big responsibility. Every business that makes a living from the so-called blue gold is bound to protect it for future generations – by safeguarding the seabed and ensuring only mature mussels end up on the processing line.

Founded in 1986, Vilsund Blue receives a large proportion of the mussels fished in and around Limfjord for processing at its three factories. Around 90% are exported to markets all over Europe, where they are enjoyed for the quality that only the cool fjord can provide.

First recognition of sustainable sourcing

As an industry that relies on trawling, an overview of the exact location of the mussel banks is essential both to ensure minimal disturbance of the seabed and fishing efficiency.

This is an area of long-standing effort for Vilsund Blue. Consequently, in 2010, the shellfish business gained the right to use the MSC label, when the Marine Stewardship Council awarded the ever first certificate for sustainably sourced mussels. MSC certificates for the company’s oysters and rope-grown mussels have followed.

Sorting the catch

The first priority when the shellfish are landed is to sort the catch. Small, immature mussels are removed and returned to the mussel banks so they can continue to grow.

In this way, only mature mussels enter the processing line. Here, they are either packed fresh or cooked for freezing or packaging in jars and tins. Proteins left behind in the cooking water are then extracted and used as a flavouring.

Partnership for recycling shells

The biggest side stream from production is the 20,000 tonnes of shells that accumulate every year. Years ago, these shells were disposed of at the nearest municipal waste depot.

Today, Vilsund Blue is committed to recycling the shells, which are now used in a multitude of applications, such as low-CO2 building materials, household insulation or surfaces for horse riding arenas.

In 2018, Vilsund Blue joined long-term partner Fredsø Logistik in establishing Vilsund Shells to manage what has now become an innovative business instead of an expense.

This no-waste approach means international customers can buy delicious and healthy shellfish of premium quality – and they can do so knowing that the supplier is a sustainable operation from cradle to gate.

Sea-based salmon farming is frequently associated with marine pollution and compromised animal welfare due to parasites and disease. For the entrepreneurs behind Skagen Salmon, the need for more sustainable production of this popular fish was clear and strong.

In 2020, the young company broke the ground for its land-based salmon farming facility at Jutland’s northern tip. Today, Skagen Salmon produces 3,600 tonnes of prime salmon a year, which are then processed in the facility’s own slaughterhouse.

Just outside lies the Skagerrak strait, which is an essential source of seawater for the farm’s recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Advanced filtration removes feed waste and faeces from the water. That benefits both the health of the salmon and the marine environment when the water is returned to the sea. A local biogas plant utilises the tank waste for its renewable energy production.

Attention to sensitive details

The salmon arrive at the plant as fertilised eggs. From then, it takes two years for them to reach their slaughter weight of around 4kg. At each stage of their lifecycle, they need exactly the right amount of high-quality feed and perfect water conditions. A current to swim against, for example, is imperative to strong growth.

Careful attention to the environment, nutrition and animal welfare ensures all the fish raised at Skagen Salmon are free from lice and antibiotics and receive feed without genetically modified ingredients. Because there are no parasites, consumers can happily eat the fish fresh without prior freezing.

Renewable priorities in production

Another aspect of production that receives considerable attention is the plant’s relatively high energy consumption. To offset this, Skagen Salmon has installed an on-site wind turbine and solar panels. These investments are a sustainable supplement to energy purchased from the local grid, most of which comes from renewable sources.

As the salmon depend on a constant water temperature all year round, a lot of energy goes into keeping the water cool in the summer. Cooling generates surplus heat which, before long, will be sent to the local district heating plant, where it will provide heat for 900 households.

The team at Skagen Salmon have based their business on a vision to become a lighthouse for sustainable salmon farming. That implies a commitment to continuous improvement. With plans to build a second facility already on the drawing board, the aim is to provide consumers in northern Europe with a responsible and high-quality source of nutrition.