IFIP-INSTITUT DU PORC ASSOCIATION

Their core work

IFIP is France's applied research and technical institute dedicated to the pig industry, covering everything from genetics and feeding strategies to animal health, welfare, and sustainability of pork production systems. They translate scientific advances into practical guidance for pig farmers and the broader pork supply chain. Their work spans feed efficiency optimization, breeding improvement, antimicrobial reduction strategies, and environmental impact assessment of livestock systems. As a sector-specific technical institute, they bridge the gap between academic research and on-farm implementation across European pig production.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IFIP's early H2020 work (2015–2018) centered on technical production challenges: feed efficiency, precision nutrition, genetic improvement, and local breed valorization — essentially optimizing how pigs are raised and fed. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward systemic and societal dimensions: antimicrobial stewardship, multi-actor approaches to farm innovation, welfare in alternative production systems, and full food-system sustainability assessment. This evolution mirrors the broader European livestock sector's pivot from productivity-focused research toward responsible and sustainable production.

IFIP is moving toward whole-system sustainability and participatory approaches, making them a strong partner for projects addressing the environmental and societal footprint of European livestock production.

How they like to work

IFIP has never coordinated an H2020 project, consistently serving as a participant or third-party expert — a pattern that suggests they contribute deep technical knowledge rather than managing large consortia. With 182 unique partners across 26 countries, they are remarkably well-connected for a specialized SME, indicating they are a trusted and sought-after contributor. Their equal split between formal participant and third-party roles (5 each) shows they are frequently brought in for specific pig-sector expertise even when not a core consortium member.

IFIP has collaborated with 182 unique partners across 26 countries, an exceptionally broad network for a sector-specific technical institute. Their partnerships span across Western and Eastern Europe, reflecting the geographic spread of the EU pig industry.

What sets them apart

IFIP occupies a rare niche as France's dedicated pig research institute — not a university, not a company, but an applied technical body embedded in the industry it serves. This gives them direct access to real farm data, producer networks, and practical implementation channels that most academic partners lack. For any consortium working on pig or monogastric livestock topics, IFIP brings both the science and the industry credibility to ensure results reach actual farms.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Feed-a-Gene
  Largest funding (EUR 559,462) and most comprehensive scope — combining precision feeding, genetics, and feed processing across pigs, poultry, and rabbits.
• GEroNIMO
  Their most recent major project, pushing into epigenetics and non-genetic inheritance for monogastric breeding — represents their scientific frontier.
• HealthyLivestock
  Significant funding (EUR 324,932) tackling the high-priority AMR challenge through an integrated health-welfare-biosecurity approach.