Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DRG4Food (Empowering a fair and responsible European FoodRegister, fostering citizen sovereignty and creating a data-driven food system.)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31
Food safety, security, sustainability, reduction of food waste and fairness throughout the food chain are at the heart of Europe’s food strategy. Digitally enhanced approaches to more transparency in the food chain are crucial. Under the topic HORIZON-CL6-2022-GOVERNANCE-01-10 - Piloting approaches and tools to empower citizens to exercise their “data rights” in the area of food and nutrition - the DRG4FOOD project develops and demonstrates a set of solutions including a roadmap and a structured open funding programme. To create a data-driven food system, the project aims to set new standards by aligning with the European Digital Rights and Principles and the Digital Responsibility Goals. The consortium partners provide measures to guide and support the food ecosystem of third-party beneficiaries, citizens and stakeholders. Designing for trust, the project promotes values such as responsibility, privacy and user sovereignty.
DRG4FOOD has commenced work in December 2022 and at the outset formulated it´s vision: To improve the quality of life for society and citizens, through an open, trustworthy, adaptive and conscious data approach along the food lifecycle, enabling a better sharing and protected use of consumer’s food data.
Based on this vision, the project and its partners have come together and initiated project work. Since the beginning, collaboration has taken good shape both within and external to the consortium. Specifically, the project consortium has achieved the following:
• DRG4FOOD laid the groundwork for the roadmap to Digital Responsibility through the Map&Gap analysis – a collaborative effort to analyse the current state of the art and the gaps still existing, under extensive stakeholder collaboration
• The project established the Digital Responsibility Framework 4 Food – a comprehensive translation of the Digital Responsibility Goals (DRGs) into the food domain
• DRG4 Food curated a Digital Responsibility Toolbox for Food – a resource base with enablers for developers and business strategists alike to help change makers responsibly transform the food system
• The project is running the first Open Call cohort and launched the second Open Call – a comprehensive programme to support innovators with their projects to digitally and responsibly innovate in the food system
• The project founded a Responsible Tech in Food community – bringing together innovators, creators and other stakeholders from across the food industry.
Based on this vision, the project and its partners have come together and initiated project work. Since the beginning, collaboration has taken good shape both within and external to the consortium. Specifically, the project consortium has achieved the following:
• DRG4FOOD laid the groundwork for the roadmap to Digital Responsibility through the Map&Gap analysis – a collaborative effort to analyse the current state of the art and the gaps still existing, under extensive stakeholder collaboration
• The project established the Digital Responsibility Framework 4 Food – a comprehensive translation of the Digital Responsibility Goals (DRGs) into the food domain
• DRG4 Food curated a Digital Responsibility Toolbox for Food – a resource base with enablers for developers and business strategists alike to help change makers responsibly transform the food system
• The project is running the first Open Call cohort and launched the second Open Call – a comprehensive programme to support innovators with their projects to digitally and responsibly innovate in the food system
• The project founded a Responsible Tech in Food community – bringing together innovators, creators and other stakeholders from across the food industry.
The project has identified three Expected Outcomes (EO) upon its initiation and has worked against these in period 1, and identified key needs for further uptake and success in period 2:
In Expected Outcome 1 (EO1) "Empower citizens to exercise their data rights and contribute to a just transition of food systems," the consortium aims to give citizens control over their personal data. Key deliverables like the DRG4FOOD Toolbox and the Digital Responsibility Playbook have provided open-source technological tools that are verifiable and meet DRG requirements, achieving scientific impact by enhancing researchers' skills and introducing digital trust. Economic and technological impact has been fostered through co-creation, decentralisation, and participation via open calls and the toolbox. Societal impact includes raising data awareness and improving health, policies, and decision-making through DEC activities like podcasts and comics. In period 2, the consortium identified further plans to ensure utake and success, and plans to publish findings, market the toolbox, and further empower citizens.
For Expected Outcome 2 (EO2) "Pilot digital solutions in food systems and nutrition with enhanced personal data protection and data sovereignty," the project began by supporting a cohort of SMEs to develop sustainable digital services. In period 1, this approach was role-modeled for other sectors via Open Calls, toolbox, and DRG framework, kickstarting new digital business models in the food sector. Societal contributions included lowering participation barriers through DEC activities. In period 2, DRG4FOOD aims to publish core findings, link with projects like Gaia-X, and enhance societal impact by better distributing wealth, increasing food safety, and enabling citizen participation.
For Expected Outcome 3 (EO3) "Advance alternative approaches to food system data sharing that promote innovation and increase competition," DRG4FOOD supports a shift to a digitally enhanced food ecosystem grounded in trust and responsibility. The project is developing a roadmap from concept to implementation. In period 1, new knowledge was created through map&gap analysis and scientific collaborations, with economic impact from baseline technologies in the toolbox and new business models. Societal impact included workshops and outreach for citizen participation. In period 2, to increase uptake and ensure success the project will continue scientific and policy work, strengthen collaborations, and facilitate new decentralized business models, enhancing citizen participation.
In Expected Outcome 1 (EO1) "Empower citizens to exercise their data rights and contribute to a just transition of food systems," the consortium aims to give citizens control over their personal data. Key deliverables like the DRG4FOOD Toolbox and the Digital Responsibility Playbook have provided open-source technological tools that are verifiable and meet DRG requirements, achieving scientific impact by enhancing researchers' skills and introducing digital trust. Economic and technological impact has been fostered through co-creation, decentralisation, and participation via open calls and the toolbox. Societal impact includes raising data awareness and improving health, policies, and decision-making through DEC activities like podcasts and comics. In period 2, the consortium identified further plans to ensure utake and success, and plans to publish findings, market the toolbox, and further empower citizens.
For Expected Outcome 2 (EO2) "Pilot digital solutions in food systems and nutrition with enhanced personal data protection and data sovereignty," the project began by supporting a cohort of SMEs to develop sustainable digital services. In period 1, this approach was role-modeled for other sectors via Open Calls, toolbox, and DRG framework, kickstarting new digital business models in the food sector. Societal contributions included lowering participation barriers through DEC activities. In period 2, DRG4FOOD aims to publish core findings, link with projects like Gaia-X, and enhance societal impact by better distributing wealth, increasing food safety, and enabling citizen participation.
For Expected Outcome 3 (EO3) "Advance alternative approaches to food system data sharing that promote innovation and increase competition," DRG4FOOD supports a shift to a digitally enhanced food ecosystem grounded in trust and responsibility. The project is developing a roadmap from concept to implementation. In period 1, new knowledge was created through map&gap analysis and scientific collaborations, with economic impact from baseline technologies in the toolbox and new business models. Societal impact included workshops and outreach for citizen participation. In period 2, to increase uptake and ensure success the project will continue scientific and policy work, strengthen collaborations, and facilitate new decentralized business models, enhancing citizen participation.