ILVO
ILVO is a Flemish Government research institute employing 750+ staff across 400+ projects in agriculture, fisheries, and food science, operating experimental farms, marine stations, and Food/Feed Pilot facilities to deliver evidence-based research and advisory services to the Flemish Government, EU institutions, and the Belgian agri-food sector.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersMerelbeke, Belgium
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ILVO does
ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek / Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) is a Flemish Government research institute established in 2005, operating as two legal entities — IVA ILVO and EV ILVO — that together employ more than 750 staff across over 400 active research projects. Its mandate is to generate independent, evidence-based scientific research spanning the food chain, from primary agricultural and fisheries production through food processing, with explicit attention to social and economic dimensions. The institute operates dedicated infrastructure including 240+ hectares of experimental fields (Onderzoekskouter), the Food Pilot and newly opened Feed Pilot processing facilities, a marine research station in Oostende, and six thematic Living Labs for co-creation with stakeholders.
ILVO's technology portfolio includes proprietary platforms such as VISTools (real-time decision support for fishing vessels integrating motor, catch, and fuel data with WASSP multi-beam sonar) and DjustConnect (an agricultural data-sharing interoperability platform). Research capabilities span eDNA and DNA metabarcoding for marine biodiversity, otolith-based fish growth analysis over 60-year horizons, ecosystem modelling for the North Sea, computer-vision species identification from underwater imagery, and predictive analytics for climate-impact assessment. These are supported by ISO 14001 environmental certification and formal advisory roles to EU bodies ICES and STECF.
ILVO's revenue model is a hybrid of Flemish Government core funding (via the Departement Landbouw en Visserij policy area), competitively secured European and federal project funding (Horizon Europe, EMFAF, FWO), and fee-for-service contract research and analysis priced under an official tariff schedule (updated 1 March 2026). The institute does not pursue commercial productisation; outputs are delivered as policy advice, scientific publications, pilot-facility services, and participation in EU research consortia. Primary customer segments are the Flemish Government and EU institutions, with secondary segments in the Belgian agri-food industry (farmers, fishers, food/feed processors) and the broader scientific community through partnerships with UGent, KU Leuven, VUB, UAntwerpen, WUR, and IFREMER.
ILVO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ILVO
- Legal name
- Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek (ILVO)
- Website
- https://ilvo.vlaanderen.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- ILVO is a Flemish Government research institute employing 750+ staff across 400+ projects in agriculture, fisheries, and food science, operating experimental farms, marine stations, and Food/Feed Pilot facilities to deliver evidence-based research and advisory services to the Flemish Government, EU institutions, and the Belgian agri-food sector.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ILVO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Applied Agricultural and Fisheries Research Services
- NAICS
- Animal Food Manufacturing (31111)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen) (AFALAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Regulatory Compliance & HACCP Consulting (FDA/USDA/EFSA) (AFALAAAD), Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) Design & Regulatory Verification (AFALADAI), Test Kit & Method Performance Evaluation Studies (Rapid Methods/Alternative Methods, Food) (AFALAKAL)
Keywords
Where ILVO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Merelbeke
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
ILVO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Core Funding: IVA ILVO operates as an internal government agency funded through the Flemish Government budget. EV ILVO (Eigen Vermogen / Own Capital) receives government appropriations and participates in competitively secured project funding from Flemish, federal, and European sources.
- Contract Research and Services: EV ILVO provides scientific research, expertise, and testing services to third parties (government agencies, industry, NGOs) on a fee-for-service basis. Pricing for analyses and services is published in official fee schedules effective from 1 March 2026.
- European and International Project Funding: ILVO participates in and coordinates European research projects funded under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), contributing to research revenue through grants and consortium agreements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Fee-for-service research, analysis, and expertise |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
ILVO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ILVO delivers applied scientific research, advisory services, and pilot-scale testing infrastructure for the Flemish Government, EU institutions, and the agricultural, fisheries, and food industries. Its deliverables include policy-supporting evidence and monitoring, contract research for industry, pilot food and feed processing trials through the Food Pilot and Feed Pilot, decision-support and data-sharing tools such as VISTools and DjustConnect, and co-creative research through six thematic Living Labs.
Product overview
ILVO (Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) is a research institution that does not offer commercial products but provides research services, facilities, and tools. Its portfolio includes the Food Pilot and Feed Pilot research facilities for food and feed production testing, VISTools decision support tool for fisheries management, DjustConnect data-sharing platform for agricultural interoperability, and six thematic Living Labs including the Marien Living Lab for marine research. These offerings support sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food production through applied research and innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Food Pilot A pilot facility for food production research, providing demonstration workshops, study days, and testing of new food-processing equipment and food-analysis capabilities for food producers and processors.
- Feed Pilot A pilot facility for feed production research, enabling testing of feed formulations and production processes for the feed industry; officially opened in April 2026.
- VISTools A decision support tool developed by ILVO that monitors and records vessel parameters including motor data, catch data, and fuel data in real time, helping fishermen optimise their operations and contributing to sustainable fisheries management.
- DjustConnect A data-sharing platform operated by ILVO that enables interoperability between farming platforms and agricultural machinery, allowing automatic data transfer between different agricultural systems for data-driven farming.
- Living Labs programme (6 thematic Living Labs including Marien Living Lab) A programme of six thematic co-creative research environments in which ILVO researchers work with farmers, fishers, industry and citizens to address agricultural, fisheries, and food challenges, including the dedicated Marien Living Lab for marine research, fisheries and aquaculture innovation.
- Contract research, testing and analytical services (EV ILVO fee-for-service) Scientific research, expertise, and analytical testing services delivered by EV ILVO to third parties (government agencies, industry, NGOs) on a fee-for-service basis under published tariff schedules effective from 1 March 2026.
- Policy advisory services to Flemish Government and EU bodies (ICES, STECF) Standing scientific advisory service providing evidence-based research, monitoring and policy advice to the Flemish Government and to EU institutions (notably ICES and STECF), supporting the EU Common Fisheries Policy, Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Biodiversity Action Plan.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sole (tong) is the most valuable species for the Belgian fishing fleet, with landing value of 35.7 million EUR in 2025 (40% of total landing value), up 5.6% from 2024.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ILVO
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ILVO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
ILVO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- European Animal Research Association (EARA)coreILVO co-authored and signed the 'Statement in support of animal research in Belgium and a transparent approach' with EARA and 23 other Belgian public and private research institutions in April 2016, promoting transparency about animal use in research. ILVO also signed the Transparency Agreement in December 2019.
- Universiteit Gent (UGent)coreILVO collaborates with UGent on joint research projects, doctoral training (co-promotion of PhD researchers), and co-organisation of events such as the AI4Animal Science Conference 2026. UGent is a key academic partner in marine biology, animal science, and agricultural research.
- KU LeuvencoreILVO co-organises the AI4Animal Science (AI4AS) Conference 2026 with KU Leuven, UGent, and EAAP. KU Leuven is a key partner in multidisciplinary research across agriculture, food technology, and animal sciences.
- Wageningen University & Research (WUR)coreILVO collaborated with WUR and UGent on the PhD research of Tuan Anh Bui on climate change effects on sole growth. WUR contributed otolith archive data and co-promoted the doctorate. WUR is a key international partner in fisheries and marine ecosystem research.
- DjustConnect ConsortiumcoreDjustConnect is ILVO's standardised agricultural data sharing platform, enabling interoperability between farms, agricultural machinery, and software systems. It connects multiple partners across the agricultural technology ecosystem.
- Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen (KBIN)coreILVO collaborates with KBIN on shark and ray research (ELASMON project) and marine biodiversity monitoring in the Belgian part of the North Sea, contributing to EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Natura 2000 reporting.
- Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ)coreILVO collaborates with VLIZ on marine research, tagging and tracking of sharks and rays in the North Sea (ELASMON project), and shared use of research vessel RV Belgica for marine monitoring campaigns.
- Statbel (Belgian Statistical Agency)supportingILVO receives agricultural and fisheries data from Statbel for use in research surveys, statistical analysis, and policy-supporting studies. Data sharing is governed by formal protocols.
- EAAP (European Federation of Animal Science)minorILVO co-organises the AI4Animal Science (AI4AS) Conference 2026 with EAAP, bringing together researchers, industry, and stakeholders to explore AI innovations in animal science.
- IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer)coreIFREMER contributed otolith archive data for the North Sea, Irish Sea, and Bay of Biscay to the ILVO-led PhD research on sole growth and climate change. IFREMER is a key French marine research partner.
- European Commission (DG MARE)coreILVO participates in EU Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects (SEAwise, EcoScope, ILIAD) funded by the European Commission, contributing to ecosystem-based fisheries management and digital twins for marine management.
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)coreILVO provides scientific advice on commercial fish stocks to ICES, which in turn provides fisheries advice to the European Commission for the Common Fisheries Policy. ILVO participates in ICES working groups including WGMIXFISH, WGSAM, and WGNSSK.
- VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)coreILVO collaborates with VUB in the Alga-Care project, investigating the potential of microalgae to combat fatty liver disease, together with the University of Antwerp.
- University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen)coreILVO collaborates with UAntwerpen in the Alga-Care project alongside VUB, searching for natural compounds from microalgae that can help prevent fatty liver disease.
- Departement Landbouw en Visserij (Flemish Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)coreILVO receives farmer contact data from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for use in research surveys, interviews, focus groups, and on-farm research. The Department is ILVO's primary commissioning government body.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ILVO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marine Institute Ireland: Ireland's national marine research agency with comparable fisheries science, seabed mapping and aquaculture R&D. Competes with ILVO's Marine Unit for ICES advisory roles and EMFAF projects in the North-East Atlantic.
- IFREMER: France's national marine research institute, comparable to ILVO's Marine Unit in Oostende. IFREMER is a named data partner for ILVO's North Sea research and competes for the same EMFAF and ICES-adjacent funding pools.
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Finland's national research institute covering natural resources, agriculture, fisheries and food. Comparable in mandate, scale and government-owned structure; competes for Horizon Europe and EMFAF awards in fisheries and bioeconomy.
- INRAE: France's national research institute for agriculture, food and environment. INRAE is a comparable multidisciplinary applied research organisation competing with ILVO for EU funding in plant science, animal science, food processing and rural economics.
- Teagasc: Ireland's Agriculture and Food Development Authority, operating research centres, advisory services and pilot facilities analogous to ILVO's Food Pilot and EV ILVO contract research model. Direct competitor for EU agri-food projects.
- Wageningen University & Research (WUR): Dutch applied research institute covering agriculture, fisheries, food and environment with comparable Living Lab and contract-research model. WUR is a named ILVO partner on sole/otolith research and a direct competitor for Horizon Europe fisheries and food projects.
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): Sweden's main agricultural and life sciences university with applied research in animal science, plant breeding, fisheries and food. Comparable academic-government hybrid model to ILVO.
Broad incumbents
- Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organisation with institutes covering food, marine, agricultural engineering and biotechnology. Competes with ILVO for EU applied research funding at significantly larger scale.
Regional players
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ): Belgian marine data and research coordination institute, headquartered in Flanders and a named ILVO partner on shark/ray research and RV Belgica campaigns. Overlaps ILVO's marine biodiversity and monitoring mandate.
Emerging players
- CEBAS-CSIC: Spanish CSIC research centre focused on agrifood science including soil, plant and food quality. Comparable applied research scope in food safety, sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, often coordinating EU Mediterranean projects that parallel ILVO's Horizon Europe work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ILVO social profiles
Digital presenceILVO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ILVO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ILVO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ILVO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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ILVO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
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Frequently asked questions about ILVO
What does ILVO do?
ILVO delivers applied scientific research, advisory services, and pilot-scale testing infrastructure for the Flemish Government, EU institutions, and the agricultural, fisheries, and food industries. Its deliverables include policy-supporting evidence and monitoring, contract research for industry, pilot food and feed processing trials through the Food Pilot and Feed Pilot, decision-support and data-sharing tools such as VISTools and DjustConnect, and co-creative research through six thematic Living Labs.
Is ILVO a public or private company?
ILVO is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was ILVO founded?
ILVO was founded in 2005. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is ILVO based?
ILVO is headquartered in Merelbeke, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does ILVO make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Core Funding is the primary driver. The others are contract Research and Services and european and International Project Funding.
Who are ILVO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marine Institute Ireland, IFREMER, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), INRAE, Teagasc, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Fraunhofer Society is listed as a broad incumbent. Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is listed as a regional player. CEBAS-CSIC is listed as an emerging player.
Does ILVO have an API?
No public API is recorded for ILVO.
What industry is ILVO in?
ILVO's product category is Applied Agricultural and Fisheries Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAAAA, Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen), with a secondary code of AFALAAAD, Regulatory Compliance & HACCP Consulting (FDA/USDA/EFSA). Its NAICS code is 31111 and its SIC code is 8731.