Project description
Fighting food label fraud with advanced analytics, machine learning and AI
EU food quality policy aims to protect the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional know-how. However, the misuse and counterfeiting of the geographical indication label on products remains a major issue for EU food producers and consumers. In this context, the EU-funded THEROS project will tackle this type of food fraud by implementing a new integrated toolbox that can verify organic and geographical food labels. Specifically, it will come up with low-cost, digital and scalable solutions that rely on Earth Observation, photonics, Internet of Things and DNA authenticity methods, coupled with advanced analytics, machine learning and AI. The toolbox will be tested in four countries covering diverse requirements.
Objective
THEROS aims to implement an integrated toolbox being capable to modernise the process of verifying organic and geographical indications food products and preventing adulterations and non-compliances, through the use of various technological innovations and data sources and while demonstrating enhanced security, transparency and interoperability in the quality labelled food supply chain. The envisioned approach consists of : i) low-cost, digital and scalable solutions that rely on Earth Observation, photonics, Internet of Things and DNA authenticity methods being coupled with advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence in order to ensure efficient detection of fraudulent cases as well as monitoring of associated quality and sustainability elements ii) blockchain enhanced traceability system and dynamic digital product passport for improved traceability, security and transparent data governance iii) platforms and algorithms allowing management and harmonisation of heterogenous data as well as their consolidation for the verification and validation of transactions across the supply chain iv) interfaces to facilitate monitoring and inspections by competent authorities, informed decision making by supply chain actors and policy makers as well as business model driven approaches to support short supply chains of quality labelled food products.
THEROS toolbox components will be extensively evaluated in real life settings through four pilot demonstrations in four different countries and while covering diverse requirements, involvement of all relevant actors and different organic/geographical indication food products and fraud/adulteration cases.
Fields of science
- social sciencessociologygovernance
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternet
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitycryptography
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learning
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
106 82 ATHINA
Greece