One of Serra’s investments in the Serra Ag & Food Tech Fund II is Volur, the Norwegian company that is using an AI platform to help meat processors optimize sorting, scheduling, and planning. Their CEO, Anna Turvoll, recently published an interesting article on how the company is making the meat industry more “green.” Read below an excerpt from “The Paradox of Profit: How AI is Making Meat Processing Greener by Making it Richer” by Anna Turvoll.
The meat processing industry has long operated on the principles of volume and efficiency. It’s a centuries-old business defined by tight profit margins, complex logistics, and the constant challenge of minimizing waste. In this high-steaks ;-) environment, where every decision impacts the bottom line, it’s easy to assume that the path to innovation is gradual and incremental. However, a quiet revolution is underway, driven not by new machinery on the factory floor, but by artificial intelligence in the planning office. This technological shift proves the most profitable decision can also be the most sustainable one, leading to outcomes that benefit not just company profits, but the planet as well. This article explores the most impactful and counter-intuitive results of this transformation, drawing on data from Völur's AI platform. The findings reveal a new paradigm where operational precision unlocks hidden value, enhances sustainability, and redefines what’s possible in one of the world's most foundational industries.
You Can Boost Sustainability by Optimizing for Profit
The idea that profitability and environmental sustainability are competing goals is a long-held assumption. In meat processing, however, AI is proving the opposite is true. By using AI to optimize for the maximum value of every single carcass, processors can meet market demand more efficiently, which has a direct and significant positive impact on their environmental footprint. The data reveals a powerful connection: this reduction translates directly into substantial environmental savings, with an absolute reduction of 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ and a 5–10% lower CO₂ per tonne produced. To put the absolute savings in perspective, the impact is: Like cutting the emissions of 10,000 transatlantic flights. This outcome challenges conventional thinking, demonstrating that the smartest financial decision—extracting the maximum value from existing resources—is also one of the most effective strategies for sustainability.
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