Periodic Reporting for period 3 - RADIANT (ReAlising DynamIc vAlue chaiNs for underuTilised crops)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-09-01 do 2025-08-31
RADIANT proposed inclusive and strategic solutions, supported by practical tools and stakeholder engagement methods, to establish Dynamic Value Chains (DVCs) for underutilised crops (UCs). These crops had significant potential to help address hunger, malnutrition, and inequality, but had often been overlooked in agrifood systems. The project included 20 AURORA Farms, which served as hubs for knowledge sharing and co-creation, demonstrating how 15 underutilised crops could be integrated into value chains and connecting farmers with consumers. The project’s objectives were to showcase successful transitions to agrobiodiversity-inclusive systems, promote best practices in land management and marketing, improve the management and breeding of underutilised crops through participatory and ex situ approaches, highlight their useful nutritional and agronomic characteristics, develop a coherent framework to assess their value along value chains, create new market opportunities for these crops within existing agrifood systems, and build capacity among farmers, civil society, and policymakers to support agrobiodiversity and enable this transition.
The project delivered a comprehensive set of outputs that significantly advanced the understanding, valorisation, and integration of underutilised crops into sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, as summarised in Fig. 1. Key conclusions included: (1) underutilised crops could provide nutritional, environmental, cultural, and economic benefits when integrated into diverse value chains; (2) innovative tools and frameworks developed by the project and made available through the Agrobiodiversity Toolbox and the UC Capacity Building Framework — including the RADIANT App, CROPBASE-EU, the Digital Agrifood Data Space (DADS), RADIANT Metrics, the Market Avenue Generator (MAG), the Agroecological Practices for Assessing Ecosystem Services (APES) framework, policy e-books, and practice abstracts — offered practical ways to expand the adoption of these crops; (3) the project highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder, participatory approaches involving farmers, consumers, researchers, and policymakers; and (4) policy support, including incentives, labelling schemes, and governance innovation, was crucial to unlocking the potential of underutilised crops. Through its scientific, technological, policy, and outreach achievements, RADIANT laid the groundwork for a lasting transformation in European agriculture and food systems.
The project delivered a comprehensive set of outputs that significantly advanced the understanding, valorisation, and integration of underutilised crops into sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, as summarised in Fig. 1. Key conclusions included: (1) underutilised crops could provide nutritional, environmental, cultural, and economic benefits when integrated into diverse value chains; (2) innovative tools and frameworks developed by the project and made available through the Agrobiodiversity Toolbox and the UC Capacity Building Framework — including the RADIANT App, CROPBASE-EU, the Digital Agrifood Data Space (DADS), RADIANT Metrics, the Market Avenue Generator (MAG), the Agroecological Practices for Assessing Ecosystem Services (APES) framework, policy e-books, and practice abstracts — offered practical ways to expand the adoption of these crops; (3) the project highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder, participatory approaches involving farmers, consumers, researchers, and policymakers; and (4) policy support, including incentives, labelling schemes, and governance innovation, was crucial to unlocking the potential of underutilised crops. Through its scientific, technological, policy, and outreach achievements, RADIANT laid the groundwork for a lasting transformation in European agriculture and food systems.
The main results achieved by RADIANT included the establishment of 20 CREATOR workshops and the organisation of 2 GOURMET events across several countries, enabling stakeholders to share success stories, test new technologies, and discuss value chains for underutilised crops (UCs). All participating farmers recruited during the first period completed their trials, and the resulting data were collected and analysed through Transition Diaries. Major digital tools were also advanced, including the CROPBASE-EU platform, which integrated farm- and value chain-level data, and the e-RADIANT app, which became available on the Apple and Google app stores. A UC Capacity Building Framework was also developed (Fig. 2), describing the range of resources generated by the project. Together, these outputs strengthened data collection, knowledge transfer, and stakeholder interaction.
The project also developed a structured approach to the characterisation, genetic analysis, breeding, and agroecological management of underutilised crops. Selected crop collections were characterised through field trials carried out in different environments, as well as through stress tolerance assessment and nutritional profiling. Participatory breeding approaches were implemented in AURORA Farms to valorise indigenous varieties and support the development of improved ones. Advanced breeding methods, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection, were applied, resulting in new molecular tools to support crop improvement (Fig. 3). In parallel, innovative agroecological practices were tested, including intercropping, cover crops, hydroponics, biostimulants, and biofertilisers, and these activities contributed to multiple scientific publications. In addition, four videos and brochures were produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) for four AURORA Farms.
The project also broadened recognition of the value of underutilised crops by assessing ecosystem services and supporting the development of novel products (Fig. 4). A framework of indicators was created to assess the environmental contribution of these crops, complemented by the Agroecological Practices for Assessing Ecosystem Services (APES) self-assessment tool for farmers. New processing technologies were tested, and five novel food products — including plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, bread, confectionery, and snacks — were developed and evaluated through sensory analysis. Underutilised crop-based animal feed and technical products were also produced using advanced processing techniques. The RADIANT Metrics tool was developed to support the multi-dimensional assessment of the sustainability and resilience of underutilised crop value chains in comparison with conventional ones. Results showed that value chains based on underutilised crops demonstrated strong agency, connectivity, and diversity, reinforcing their potential as sustainable alternatives.
Further outputs supported business development, data sharing, and transparency in value chains. The Digital Agrifood Data Space (DADS) was finalised to enable secure data sharing, while the Market Avenue Generator (MAG) decision-support system was developed to support the design of sustainable business models. Fifteen business briefs were co-created with AURORA Farms, and a blockchain-based traceability demonstrator was tested, improving transparency and consumer trust in underutilised crop value chains.
The project also ensured the dissemination and exploitation of its results. Project branding and communication tools were maintained, with continuous updates to the website, social media channels, and the Agrobiodiversity Toolbox, which hosted nine tools by the end of the project. Key dissemination events included the RARE FOOD FAIR (Fig. 5), which attracted wide public and media attention and showcased the diversity of underutilised crops through several national and international exhibitors. To support exploitation, workshops were conducted, exploitation roadmaps and pitch decks were prepared, and collaboration with sister projects and networks was strengthened through UC-Cluster activities. Overall, RADIANT (Fig. 6) made a significant contribution to advancing knowledge and practice on underutilised crops by delivering innovative tools, policy recommendations, sustainable management practices, and new products.
The project also developed a structured approach to the characterisation, genetic analysis, breeding, and agroecological management of underutilised crops. Selected crop collections were characterised through field trials carried out in different environments, as well as through stress tolerance assessment and nutritional profiling. Participatory breeding approaches were implemented in AURORA Farms to valorise indigenous varieties and support the development of improved ones. Advanced breeding methods, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection, were applied, resulting in new molecular tools to support crop improvement (Fig. 3). In parallel, innovative agroecological practices were tested, including intercropping, cover crops, hydroponics, biostimulants, and biofertilisers, and these activities contributed to multiple scientific publications. In addition, four videos and brochures were produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) for four AURORA Farms.
The project also broadened recognition of the value of underutilised crops by assessing ecosystem services and supporting the development of novel products (Fig. 4). A framework of indicators was created to assess the environmental contribution of these crops, complemented by the Agroecological Practices for Assessing Ecosystem Services (APES) self-assessment tool for farmers. New processing technologies were tested, and five novel food products — including plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, bread, confectionery, and snacks — were developed and evaluated through sensory analysis. Underutilised crop-based animal feed and technical products were also produced using advanced processing techniques. The RADIANT Metrics tool was developed to support the multi-dimensional assessment of the sustainability and resilience of underutilised crop value chains in comparison with conventional ones. Results showed that value chains based on underutilised crops demonstrated strong agency, connectivity, and diversity, reinforcing their potential as sustainable alternatives.
Further outputs supported business development, data sharing, and transparency in value chains. The Digital Agrifood Data Space (DADS) was finalised to enable secure data sharing, while the Market Avenue Generator (MAG) decision-support system was developed to support the design of sustainable business models. Fifteen business briefs were co-created with AURORA Farms, and a blockchain-based traceability demonstrator was tested, improving transparency and consumer trust in underutilised crop value chains.
The project also ensured the dissemination and exploitation of its results. Project branding and communication tools were maintained, with continuous updates to the website, social media channels, and the Agrobiodiversity Toolbox, which hosted nine tools by the end of the project. Key dissemination events included the RARE FOOD FAIR (Fig. 5), which attracted wide public and media attention and showcased the diversity of underutilised crops through several national and international exhibitors. To support exploitation, workshops were conducted, exploitation roadmaps and pitch decks were prepared, and collaboration with sister projects and networks was strengthened through UC-Cluster activities. Overall, RADIANT (Fig. 6) made a significant contribution to advancing knowledge and practice on underutilised crops by delivering innovative tools, policy recommendations, sustainable management practices, and new products.
RADIANT went beyond the state of the art by generating evidence and translating it into practical tools, methods, and guidance to support the wider adoption of underutilised crops (UCs) across different regions and socio-economic contexts in European Union Member States. By the end of the project, a range of outputs had been delivered to help farmers identify the most suitable underutilised crops for their regional conditions, production systems, and value chain opportunities. The project also developed guidelines for food business operators to support accurate labelling based on scientific evidence and market insights, thereby improving transparency and consumer confidence.
Participatory approaches implemented through the AURORA Farms, together with the development of a self-assessment tool, enabled farmers to evaluate the ecosystem services associated with underutilised crops and to make more informed management decisions. At the same time, innovative agroecological practices and modern technologies contributed to improved productivity, resilience, and nutritional quality. The project also developed and tested novel food, feed, and technical products, demonstrating the versatility and market potential of these crops.
RADIANT further advanced the field by establishing a framework to assess the environmental sustainability and resilience of underutilised crop value chains, helping compare these systems with conventional alternatives and supporting transparent decision-making. Its dissemination and exploitation activities — including the RARE FOOD FAIR, workshops, practice abstracts, videos, and the Agrobiodiversity Toolbox — increased public awareness, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and supported the uptake of project results. Overall, the project contributed to the transition towards more diverse, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, with positive socio-economic implications for farmers, value chain actors, consumers, and rural communities.
Participatory approaches implemented through the AURORA Farms, together with the development of a self-assessment tool, enabled farmers to evaluate the ecosystem services associated with underutilised crops and to make more informed management decisions. At the same time, innovative agroecological practices and modern technologies contributed to improved productivity, resilience, and nutritional quality. The project also developed and tested novel food, feed, and technical products, demonstrating the versatility and market potential of these crops.
RADIANT further advanced the field by establishing a framework to assess the environmental sustainability and resilience of underutilised crop value chains, helping compare these systems with conventional alternatives and supporting transparent decision-making. Its dissemination and exploitation activities — including the RARE FOOD FAIR, workshops, practice abstracts, videos, and the Agrobiodiversity Toolbox — increased public awareness, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and supported the uptake of project results. Overall, the project contributed to the transition towards more diverse, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, with positive socio-economic implications for farmers, value chain actors, consumers, and rural communities.