Project number: CA22146

WG Nutrition leader: Marija Knez

Project collaborator: Jelena Milešević, Petar Jovanović

Duration of the project: October 2023-September2027

Leading institution: University College Dublin, Ireland

Description of the project:

With population growing rapidly and within the context of agro-climatic changes, there is an increased demand to sustainably produce nutritious food. In Europe, many nutrient-dense foods are not widely grown and consumed, despite their suitability to European climates and environments, and viability for sustainable production with lower inputs. Underutilised crops that are stress resilient such as rye and legumes, have the potential to supply key nutrients and improve diets and risk of diet-related diseases. Such crops have a long history of cultivation across the continent and are part of the national historic food identity of different European countries yet are underutilised due to several complex reasons. DIVERSICROP addresses these challenges using an innovative, cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach by analysing the deep history of underutilised crops in Europe, understanding the genetic diversity and adaptation to climate change of crop germplasm, analysing current regional trends in the consumption of food products and by involving national and EU policymakers and key stakeholders to revive diverse crop production and maximise the impact of Europe’s agricultural sustainability. DIVERSICROP aims to harmonise fragmented data and develop strategies for the sustainable cultivation of target crops, striking a balance between agricultural sustainability and human nutritional value. DIVERSICROP brings together a skilled and interdisciplinary network to identify climate-resilient crop lines, and potential nutritional and health benefits of their consumption to rethink our food systems. DIVERSICROP will strengthen the Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity strategies under the European Green Deal to contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Project leader: Jelena Milešević, coordinator for IMR team

Project number: 101136361

Duration of the project: 2024-2026

Leading institution: AGENCE NATIONALE DE LA RECHERCHE (PIC: 998711613, located in PARIS, FR)

Abstract

The vision of FutureFoodS is to collectively achieve environmentally friendly, socially secure, fair and economically viable healthy and safe Food Systems (FS) for Europe. FutureFoodS gather 87 partners from 22 EU Member States, 6 Associated Countries and 1 third country. FutureFoodS includes public and private actors, policy makers, foundations, locally, sub-nationally, nationally, EU-widely. All these FutureFoodS partners are fully aligned on the vision for the Partnership and the methodology for its implementation in line with SDG17 and EU Green Deal components. This vision has been broken down into general (GO), specific (SO) and operational (OO) objectives applying across the 4 R&I areas and 4 transversal activities identified by the FutureFoods consortium in its stable draft Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) which constitutes the strategic backbone of the project. The four GO cover: GO1 – Functioning of FS; GO2 – System approaches; GO3 – Inclusive government; GO4 – Co-creation cases. These GO have then been translated into SO prioritised in line with the timescale and resources of the Partnership: SO1 – Change the way we eat; SO2- Change the way we process and supply food, SO3 – Change the way we connect with FSs and SO4 – Change the way we govern FS. In addition, 6 interconnected OO have been set: OO1- Pooling R&I resources and programming; OO2 – Operational FS Observatory; OO3 – Active FS knowledge Hub of FS Labs; OO4 – Functioning knowledge sharing and scaling mechanisms; OO5- Revisiting the SRIA; OO6 – Promoting, supporting, widening & gathering FS various communities. The objectives implemented in the 8 WPs of FutureFoodS will exert impact directly or indirectly in most of the destinations of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6 2023-2024 work programme and particularly for the topic destination ‘Fair, healthy and environment-friendly FS from primary production to consumption’ echoing to the main EU and World FS policies & strategies.

Project leader: Jelena Milešević, coordinator for IMR team

Project collaborators: Marija Knez, Ivana Šarac

Project number: 101137127

Duration of the project: January 2024-December 2028

Leading Institution: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK – UCC

Project description

Micronutrient (MN) deficiency is a form of malnutrition that occurs due to low intake and/or absorption of minerals and vitamins, with adverse consequences for human development and health. Children, adolescents, women of reproductive age (including pregnancy) and older adults (representing ~70% of European society) as well as immigrant/ethnic minority groups and those affected by social inequality or poverty, are at risk of MN deficiencies. While addressing this public health problem is a priority, it is not possible until data on the prevalence of MN deficiencies across the EU population and the causes for these deficiencies is available to predict and identify those most at risk. Without this information, discussions on how to meet dietary requirements for the priority MNs of public health concern, and improve their status, take place in a vacuum. The Zero_HiddenHunger_EU project aims to 1) provide estimates of the true prevalence of MN deficiencies, based on priority biomarker and MN intake data in European populations and their associated health costs, focused on high-risk population subgroups, and 2) provide the best possible evidence to develop context-specific, tailored food-focused solutions to ensure adequate supply of vitamins and minerals from diets from sustainable sources. The consortium will focus the research effort around existing high-quality data resources and biobanks from diverse and representative population groups around Europe, supplemented by targeted studies in under-represented groups, maximizing research investment and adding value. Using high-throughput biomarker and advanced data analytical and modelling techniques, Zero_HiddenHunger_EU will deliver credible evidence enabling policymakers and food system actors to deliver food-focused strategies to eradicate MN deficiencies from Europe.

Project leader: Olivera Mitrović Ajtić

Project collaborators:

Project number: 7749695

Duration of the project: 20.01.2022 . до 20.01.2025.

Leading Institution:

Description of the project: