A novel and non-invasive pulsed electric field (PEF) technology for use in the food processing industry is under development at both Loughborough University (UK) and the University of Pau (France). The technology uses an antenna coupled to a high-voltage pulsed generator to produce short duration pulses of very intense electric field strength. In the Loughborough scheme, a Tesla transformer charges an oil-filled pulse forming line to more than 500 kV, and electric fields are generated by a pulsed antenna with a rise time of 1 ns with a figure of merit of about 130 kV. In the Pau scheme, a gas pressurised pulse forming unit, comprising a peaking stage and a crowbar switch, is incorporated into the last stage of a ten-stage Marx generator. When a Valentine travelling wave antenna is attached, the overall system is capable of generating electric fields with a rise time of 300 ps with a figure of merit of 450 kV. During the common research programme, the combination of a Tesla transformer and an ultrafast Marx generator technology will bring complementary improvements in the design of intense pulsed electric field generators and allow measurements to be made over the wide radiated field frequency spectrum, essential for the present research. The novel non-invasive PEF technology offers considerable promise and in principle opens the possibility to process for the first time solid foodstuff such as meat. A possible major potential application also exists in the wine industry, with the possibility of accelerated ageing after bottling. The many aspects of commercial implications of the successful development of the novel technique will be highlighted. An essential requirement arising in the common research programme is the measurement of intense fast transient electric fields. Field measurements are conventionally performed using D-dot probes and special purpose antennae, but since these methods are unsuitable for the present application both Loughborough and Pau are developing fast electro-optic sensors based on the Kerr effect for measurements in water and the Pockels' effect for measurements in air. These techniques offer several advantages over conventional sensors, such as high bandwidth, miniaturisation, non-invasion and complete immunity to electromagnetic perturbing influence from the high-voltage generators, which together make them extremely suitable for innovative electric field treatment applications. However, some precautions have to be implemented to ensure reliable measurements and the paper will present the major principles involved in the design of dedicated experimental arrangements. Preliminary results will be presented and evaluated from the experimental research programmes underway at the two Universities. (4 pages)