The Smartz4Milk project marks a turning point in the modernization of the Galician dairy industry
The Smartz4Milk project, to modernize the Galician dairy sector through digitalization, sustainability, and traceability, has come to an end after months of collaborative work between industrial and technology companies, universities, and knowledge centers.
The closing ceremony was held with a roundtable discussion within the framework of the Galicia Food Forum, where the project’s main achievements were presented and the future of the sector was discussed. Under the title “Reinventing the Dairy Sector: Innovation and Collaboration for a Key Sector,” representatives from companies such as Grupo Lence, Bico de Xeado, Capsa Vida, and Queixería Prestes participated, moderated by Hugo Criado (Medrar Innovation Office).
A driving project to transform the dairy industry in Galicia
Promoted by the Galician Food Cluster (Clusaga) through the Next Generation Galicia Food Technical Office, Smartz4Milk has received €9.7 million in funding from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the European Union through Next Generation EU funds, within the framework of the Agrifood PERTE (Agri-Food Program).
The project brought together 11 companies—7 from the dairy sector and 4 from technology—with the aim of addressing the sector’s major challenges: improving competitiveness, reducing environmental impact, ensuring full product traceability, and facilitating data-driven decision-making.
Main Project Advances and Results
Throughout the project, 18 primary subprojects were developed, organized into three main areas: digitalization, sustainability, and traceability. These are some of the milestones highlighted by participating companies:
AMSlab
Highlighted traceability as a strategic tool to ensure more sustainable and transparent processes. Thanks to the project, new analytical methods were developed for the study of milk proteins in key production phases, allowing for the detection of process variations and improving the overall efficiency of the sector.
ASM Soft
Developed a digital solution for operations management in the dairy industry, enabling participating SMEs to move toward connected factory models, generating a scalable and replicable system for other companies in the sector. The solution includes integration with PITSA (Spanish Agricultural Technology and Transport) and AI algorithms for advanced data analysis.
Bico de Xeado
Worked on the development of a new product reference based on infrared technology. It also improved the efficiency of its internal processes with big data tools and designed a food traceability and safety system that integrates blockchain, proteomics, and quantum artificial intelligence.
CAPSA FOOD
Focused on improving the production process. Since conceptualizing the PITSA platform, the company has identified new data points that were previously invisible, facilitating real-time optimization of decision-making.
CLUN
Realized one of the sector’s biggest challenges. The cooperative managed to establish a system for the secure exchange of data between devices, systems, and services, a key step toward plant connectivity.
GRUPO LENCE
Integrated all its traceability data into a single platform. This tool allows for simple control of the entire chain, from milk collection, through processing, to the distribution of the final product. The new system has improved transparency, simplified processes, and increased responsiveness.
QUEIXERÍA PRESTES
Succeeded in converting waste generated at the cheese factory into new, sustainable, high-value products. In addition, it researched the use of new materials with chitosan and nettle extract as innovative biodegradable packaging that maintains the characteristic smokiness of its cheeses.
Finally, an advanced wastewater treatment system based on mixed constructed wetlands was implemented, which has reduced the plant’s water footprint.
QUEIZUAR
The company achieved complete digitalization of its plant, incorporating sensors for online analysis, traceability systems during cheese curing, and labeling control using computer vision. It also improved its resource efficiency, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.
Plexus Tech
It worked on the design of predictive tools that allow it to anticipate market and industry needs and adapt processes based on sector developments. The solutions implemented allow for complete product tracing, from origin to consumer, and are certified on Blockchain.
Sixtema
It developed solutions tailored to the real needs of the sector. The company highlighted the value of the project in connecting all links in the chain and bringing technology closer to both family-owned companies and more industrialized structures.
In addition to the technological solutions developed, Smartz4Milk has generated a new model of cooperation in the sector, integrating knowledge, data, and processes to address the major challenges of the present and future. The project has laid the foundation for a more efficient, sustainable, and connected dairy industry. Galicia now has a clear roadmap to continue driving the digital transformation of its agri-food sector.
About SmartZ4Milk
SmartZ4Milk is a driving project that seeks to improve the competitiveness, sustainability, and traceability of the dairy sector in Galicia through 18 primary projects. With a total budget of €16.8 million and a grant of €9.7 million, it is funded by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism (MINTUR) and the European Union through the Next Generation EU funds.
Promoted by the Galician Food Cluster (Clusaga) and led by Grupo Lence, the project will run until June 2025.
Participating are dairy companies such as CAPSA FOOD, Queizúar, Queixería Prestes, CLUN, and Bico de Xeado, as well as technology companies such as Plexus Tech, Sixtema, ASM Soft, and Grupo AMSlab.