The Problem

The local sustainable meat value chain suffers from inefficiencies that hamper profitability for both producers and processors. Both farmers and small- to medium processors need each other in order to succeed, but their relationship can be hampered by laborious communication and inventory issues. Currently, the niche sustainable meat industry lacks professional data management tools. Technology could help the local meat value chain to scale up and become economically sustainable by facilitating further integration between farmers, processors and consumers.

A Scale-able Solution

“CARV” is an internet web-enabled scale -- and label printer -- that captures critical data about individual cuts of meat flowing through a meat-cutting facility, saves the data in a digital format, and uploads the data to a server. Once CARV captures the data, we can generate automated reports for anyone in the value chain, thus alleviating many pain points felt by producers, processors and consumers.

CARV is particularly unique because it doesn’t change processors’ workflow, it is not technically demanding to operate, and it provides value for processors by reducing the time they need to spend reporting to the USDA and FSIS (Food Safety Inspection Service).

Also, once CARV has collected the data, it can generate information that would be valuable to producers and consumers.