Microbiome applications and technology centres as solutions to minimize food loss and waste
WHAT IS FOODGUARD?
ElThe FoodGUARD project is an initiative that aims to use the microbiome (a set of microorganisms, genes and environmental conditions that surround them) to reduce food loss and waste. To do this, it will develop innovative packaging and digital tools that will help stakeholders in the European food industry increase: quality, safety and transparency.
OBJECTIVES
During this process, FoodGUARD’s objectives are:
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WHY?
The agri-food industry faces challenges such as: (1) providing the world’s population with enough food (food security), and (2) ensuring that these foods are safe to eat (food safety); while maintaining production processes within environmental limitations.
Production must follow the principles of the European Green Deal priorities, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the ‘Food2030’ strategies for a healthy, fair and ecological system.
The FoodGUARD project seeks to extend the useful life of high-value perishable foods, such as meat, fish, vegetables, and cheese; enable monitoring of food spoilage, and predict the effect of the microbiome on selected food systems.
Thus, solutions will be presented that will help the industry to use alternatives to chemical preservatives and implement responsive policies that involve consumers, improving trust in the food sector and increasing traceability.
METHODOLOGY
The project integrates teams from different sectors, using an intersectoral multi-actor approach, distributed among the 7 Work Packages. By working together, FoodGUARD partners will develop a series of protective packaging and cultures, temporary temperature indicators, and smart printed labels.
DURATION
January 01, 2024 – December 31, 2026
PROJECT WEBSITE
LINK TO CORDIS
The FoodGUARD project has received funding from the Horizon Europe – Action Grant Budget-Based grant agreement n°101136542 of the European Commission.
PARTICIPATING PARTNERS
| COUNTRY | ORGANIZATION | TYPE OF ENTITY |
| Greece | Smart Agro Hub Anonymi Etairia – SAH | SME |
| Greece | Agritrack S.A. – AGRI | SME |
| Greece | Ktinotrofiki Magnisias-Synergazomeni Ekmetallefsi-Anonymos Etaireia – FARM | SME |
| Greece | National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” – NCSRD | Research Centre |
| Greece | Philosofish S.A. – FISH | Company |
| Luxembourg | Netcompany-Intrasoft S.A. – INTRA | Company |
| Netherlands | MantiSpectra B.V. – MANTI | SME |
| Spain | Asociación de Investigación de Industrias Cárnicas del Principado de Asturias – ASINCAR | Research Centre |
| Spain | Mataderos Industriales Soler S.A. – MISSA | Company |
| Spain | Centre de Recerca en Economia i Desenvolupament Agroalimentari – CREDA | Research Centre |
| Italy | Unione Nazionale Consumatori – UNC | Association |
| Germany | Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie ev Hans-Knoll-Institut – HKI | Research Centre |
| Germany | Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung – BfR | Public Body |
| France | Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer – IFREMER | Research Centre |
| Belgium | Universiteit Gent – UGENT | University |
| Belgium | PACK4FOOD – P4F | Association |
| Finland | Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt oy – VTT | Research Centre |
| United Kingdom | E1 Data Science LTD – E1 | SME |
| Cyprus | MCC Best Value LTD – BEST | Company |
THE ROLE OF CREDA
TASK
In this project, CREDA leads task 2.1. “Mapping Key Stakeholders’ Expectations on Food Waste and Shelf Life.” This aims to improve the transparency of the food chain by examining operations, processing and packaging. Thus, the task will identify the challenges faced by stakeholders, such as food quality, shelf-life extension and transparency.
In addition, CREDA will contribute to tasks to identify gaps, design sustainable packaging configurations in pilot cases, create innovative technological solutions or improve food quality throughout the supply chain. Thus, the centre will carry out a series of surveys among European consumers to find out their demand for sustainable packaging and the innovations proposed by the project.
NEWS
CREDA participates in a new European project: FoodGUARD
We participate in a new project within the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission that aims to extend, monitor and predict the shelf life of perishable foods through the study and use of microbial materials.
