Artificial intelligence and digital modeling are reaching one of the most traditional activities in the food industry: cheese development. The French group Bel presented a research project aimed at creating a digital twin of The Laughing Cow, allowing for the virtual testing of different formulations before moving on to experimental production.
The initiative was announced on October 6th, as part of the centenary celebrations of the Lons-le-Saunier factory in France, and is the result of a strategic partnership established in 2024 with the technology company Dassault Systèmes.
According to the Bel group, this is a pioneering global initiative in the food industry, with the potential to transform research and development processes for new products.
Thousands of recipes tested in a virtual environment.
The digital twin functions as a simulator capable of bringing together different characteristics of a food product in a single virtual environment. The system integrates information about ingredients, formulations, physicochemical properties, sensory perception, and consumer preferences. From this data, research teams can explore thousands of recipe combinations, identifying the most promising options before conducting physical tests.
Traditionally, food product development involves successive experiments in which ingredients, quantities, and manufacturing conditions are altered, followed by laboratory analyses and sensory tests. With this technology, Bel aims to reduce the number of experiments required, concentrating testing on formulations with the greatest potential. The goal is to shorten development cycles and optimize recipes, while simultaneously improving the nutritional quality, sensory experience, and environmental performance of the products.
Artificial intelligence is making its way into food formulation.
The application of digital twins to the food industry represents an evolution of technologies already used in sectors such as aeronautics, the automotive industry, and life sciences.
In the case of Bel, the project seeks to combine accumulated experience in the production of processed cheese with digital modeling tools, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. The technology is being developed by the group's research, innovation, and development teams, with industrial-scale implementation expected by 2028.
According to the company, the work carried out with external partners has already made it possible to incorporate predictive microbiology solutions and formulation support tools into the new product development processes.
This transformation is part of a broader strategy to digitize the value chain, from research and development to industrial production. Bel emphasizes, however, that the goal of these tools is to complement the knowledge of the teams and not to replace human expertise.
Century-old factory prepares for new phase of modernization.
The project presentation coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Lons-le-Saunier industrial unit, inaugurated in 1926 and considered the historical cradle of the group's industrial activity. It was in this factory that Bel developed specific expertise in the production and packaging of processed cheese in portions, contributing to the internationalization of The Laughing Cow. Currently, about two-thirds of the unit's production is exported to 60 countries.
The factory also houses the group's global center for expertise and innovation in the area of processed cheese.
The modernization of the unit involves an investment of 10 million euros over three years, aimed at improving industrial and environmental performance. Among the results already achieved is a 15% reduction in water consumption over the last five years, equivalent to annual savings of approximately 11 cubic meters.
The installation of a new wastewater treatment plant in 2025 and the commissioning of a biomass boiler are also part of the factory's transformation process.
Bel Group bets on innovation to transform the food industry.
For Cécile Béliot, CEO of the Bel group, the centenary of the Lons-le-Saunier plant represents an opportunity to combine accumulated industrial knowledge with new technologies. She emphasizes that the factory's evolution over a century demonstrates the company's adaptability and that the digital twin project is another step in that journey.
The unit currently employs 370 people and plays a central role in the group's product research and development.
With a turnover of €3,83 billion in 2025, Bel has approximately 11 employees, 29 industrial units and products sold in more than 120 countries.
