Making food systems more resilient to food safety risks through the deployment of technological solutions

Expected Outcome

The successful proposal will be in line with the European Green Deal priorities and the farm to fork strategy for a fair healthy and environmentally friendly food system. This topic is also in line with the overall challenges highlighted in the updated Food 2030 pathways for action 2.0 report, particularly on the food safety systems of the future pathway, this report was published in December 2023 by the European Commission.

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• a new level of ambition and creativity is implemented to tackle innovation creation, enhancing the deployment of solutions in the field of food safety and/or food fraud using existing knowledge, available technologies (such as molecular methods, genomic strategies, photonics, biotechnology, etc.) and the results achieved by European framework programmes projects. The EU’s strong knowledge base is translated into marketable results addressing the “innovation paradox” (i.e. the fact that knowledge does not always translate to marketable products and services);
• food systems become more resilient to food safety risks through the use and exploitation of available knowledge and technologies;
• increased food chain and food systems competitiveness creating close to the market impactful applications that will benefit and connect solutions for food systems actors (i.e., farming, raw materials and ingredients suppliers, food industry, etc.);
• increased complementarities and results uptake in the field of food safety and/or food fraud with past and existing European framework programmes projects, and synergies with programmes and their associated project results from the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC);
• contribute to EU climate action: deployment of clean technologies in the food industry, to boost food manufacturing efficiency and reduce carbon footprint.

Scope

Proposals should contribute to all of the following aspects:

• in the areas of food safety and food fraud a lot of efforts have been invested in European framework programme projects generating knowledge and potential applications. Proposals should contribute to further develop existing knowledge and technological results in the areas to reach higher TRLs aligned with user’s needs and estimating the potential impact on cost for the consumers;
• support innovation to foster advances along the food system implementing digital and technological solutions in high TRL´s covering existing food safety and/or food fraud gaps. Proposals should develop and implement innovative solutions close to the market. This should be based on an initial food chain needs and technology gap analysis in the area of food safety hazards (including climate-related ones when applicable) and/or food fraud justifying the followed decision-making process. When selecting the food safety and/or food fraud technologies the most innovative clean technologies should be favoured in scenarios of equal conditions to reduce GHG emissions. The exploitation plan should include preliminary plans for commercialisation and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used;
• identify existing regulations and give recommendations about which technologies could use sandboxes to foster future commercialisation;

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 8 by the end of the project. Proposals should clearly define the TRL starting point for each involved technology and the plan to reach more advanced TRL.

Applicants should seek complementarities and leverage on the results of past and ongoing research and innovation projects (including projects under the same topic) in the areas of food safety and/or food fraud (i.e. HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01-12, HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-01-3, HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-01-4 among others). Therefore, proposals should include a dedicated task, appropriate resources, and a plan on how they should collaborate with other ongoing projects under this theme. In the case of already finished projects applicants will define the best way to engage relevant stakeholders of such projects and the cooperation agreements (also in terms of technology transfer and intellectual property) that are needed.

Governmental and food safety regulatory authorities (i.e. EFSA) should, alongside with other stakeholders (startups, SMEs, investors, etc.) be involved. The multi-actor approach applies to this topic.

Proposals are encouraged to consider, where relevant, the services offered by European research infrastructures such as METROFOOD-RI (the infrastructure for promoting metrology in food and nutrition) or other relevant research infrastructures.

Proposals are also encouraged to consider citizens and societal engagement in their activities for the implementation of technological results better aligned with consumer’s needs.

To achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged.

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 8 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.