On 6 March 2025, John Albechaalany successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Clermont-Ferrand, surrounded by colleagues and family members who had traveled from Lebanon. His research marks a significant milestone as the first PhD project partially funded by the INTAQT initiative (Innovative Tools for Assessment and Authentication of chicken meat, beef, and dairy products’ QualiTies), launched in June 2021.

He conducted his work under the supervision of Marie-Pierre Ellies (main supervisor), Jean-François Hocquette (co-supervisor), Cécile Berri and Jérôme Saracco (co-advisors). John’s thesis introduced an exploratory optimization approach to intrinsic meat quality, utilizing four diverse databases encompassing both beef and poultry. The study identified correlations between farming practices and meat quality attributes, such as marbling and fatty acid profiles, across various species and production systems. Key findings highlighted the influence of factors like diet, feed efficiency, and muscle characteristics on sensory quality. Employing genetic algorithms, the methodology enabled the formulation of tailored farming practice adjustments aligned with specific quality objectives.

The research has culminated in the publication of three original articles focusing on beef, with a forthcoming submission on poultry meat anticipated in an international journal. Notably, the modeling methodologies developed are already being integrated by INTAQT consortium members involved in Work Package 5 (WP5), dedicated to modeling activities.

John’s contributions resonate with INTAQT’s overarching mission to develop science-based tools for assessing and authenticating the intrinsic quality of animal products across diverse European husbandry systems. His work exemplifies the project’s commitment to enhancing transparency and quality in the agri-food sector.

Congratulations to John for his outstanding work and valuable contributions to the INTAQT project.