Project description
Novel biodiversity analysis tool brings underutilised agri-food products to the forefront
The EU-funded BIOVALUE project will employ a bottom-up approach to develop the BIOVALUE tool, a dynamic and customisable agri-food value chain biodiversity analysis tool. Researchers will use it to introduce, model, evaluate, breed, produce and spread specifically selected genetically diverse underutilised crops and develop marketable, certified culinary products. By responding to consumer demand to enhance agrobiodiversity in agroecosystems, BIOVALUE will secure the crops' future market performance and their cultivation viability. Moreover, a modelled user-friendly ready-to-work framework will be used to produce a set of key performance indicators for measuring policy quality and impact, environmental evolution and compliance with regulations; the aim is to introduce underutilised, genetically diverse crops to the value chain, which will further enhance biodiversity.
Objective
The approach of BIOVALUE project is to set-up a holistic perspective, under the “multi-actor” approach, to analyse the link between biodiversity, the agro-food value chain agents, the environment, consumer food preferences and health. By employing a bottom-up vertical approach to develop the BIOVALUE TOOL, a dynamic and customizable agri-food value chain vis-a-vis biodiversity analysis tool, the proposal tries to introduce, model, evaluate, breed, produce and spread specifically selected genetically diverse underutilized crops (cereals, legumes, leafy and fruity vegetables) and develop final marketable, certified and labelled culinary products incorporating them (dish recipes and processed foodstuff), that enhance agro-biodiversity to the applied agro-ecosystems and appeal to the consumers, securing their future market performance and concurrently, their cultivation viability. Moreover, in a modelled user-friendly ready-to-work framework, the project will produce a set of key performance indicators destined to measure policy quality and impact, environmental evolution and compliance with regulations of introducing underutilized, genetically diverse crops to the value chain and are by design expandable to further enhance biodiversity in the value chain. Ultimately, this expanding nature, is highlighted by the complimentary effects of BIOVALUE processed and unprocessed final food products and dishes such as low energy consumption, environmental cultivation resiliency to marginal landscapes and future climate, as well as nutritional and health benefits. Incorporating the market power in the whole approach, the proposal can lead towards self-supported sustainability of biodiversity in the future.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedscereals
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedslegumes
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
546 36 THESSALONIKI
Greece