ECO-INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVED NUTRITION, SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF AGROECOLOGICAL FOOD PRODUCTS IN AFRICA

Project Information

INNOECOFOOD

Grant agreement ID: 101136739

DOI

10.3030/101136739

EC signature date 6 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 30 June 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 7 002 420,00

EU contribution

€ 6 750 129,38

Coordinated by

CENTRO INTERDISCIPLINAR DE INVESTIGACAO MARINHA E AMBIENTAL
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INNOECOFOOD (ECO-INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVED NUTRITION, SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF AGROECOLOGICAL FOOD PRODUCTS IN AFRICA)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

INNOECOFOOD addresses the UN Millenium Development Goals and the EU-AU Green Transition by promoting diverse sustainable agroecological food production systems that protect the environment and provide socio-economic benefit to producers and people in Africa and Europe. Unique production/business ECOHUBS and monitoring of local aquaculture farms (Living Labs) using advanced technology, AI and IoT are training rural farmers, youth and women in six African countries to ethically produce and process safe, nutritious, high protein aquaculture fish, spirulina and insect value chains into human food products and feed to ensure food and nutrition security. Sustainable local resources, innovative chilling and drying, renewable energy (solar and wind) and recycling of waste by-products and water (circular economy) within the ECOHUB, accompanied by Good Manufacturing Practice, Quality Control, low carbon footprint and certification, will support EU-AU markets and trade. An experienced multi-actor consortium comprising 21 partners in Europe (Portugal, UK, Germany, Belgium and Turkey) and Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, Ghana and Egypt) and rural communities are addressing the following objectives:
-To conduct scoping of aquaculture practices (living labs) and establish four sustainable and innovative agribusiness rural ECOHUBS using renewable solar/wind energy for the production, processing and marketing of aquaculture value chains (fish and Spirulina) and insects in diverse African countries.
- To optimize the production of eco-farmed fish, spirulina and insects, sustainable feeds and post-harvest processing technologies using sensors, AI and IoT technology in aquaculture ECOHUBS and living labs sites.
- To scope suitable plant products; up cycle fish waste nutrients and make novel products from fish and co-products, spirulina and insects by solar powered drying and extrusion processing using AI sensors and IoT.
- To validate nutritional and sensory quality, microbiological and chemical safety, consumer acceptance, life cycle analysis impact and implement certification schemes for fish, spirulina and insect processing and products for consumption, marketing and trade.
- Create a database and train locally 120 youth and 120 women in the ECOHUBS and about 5000 rural workers, disseminate and exploit results to achieve maximum impact.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Activities started Jan 1, 2024. Kick-off at CIIMAR, Portugal, agreed on activity harmonization and ECOHUB construction. WPL holds quarterly online meetings to assess progress and mitigate issues. Coordination meetings held M6 (Turkey), M12 (online), M18 (Kenya).
ECOHUBS installed in Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Tanzania; living labs in Ghana, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania. Sites near villages, with local community, women, youth involvement and training.
Spirulina samples from all ECOHUB countries sent to BMAEU; 11 strains isolated (5 Kenya, 5 Tanzania, 1 Egypt), none new from Ghana; strains cultivated and analyzed.
Agricultural by-products mapped for black soldier fly mass production. Diets from by-products improved locust/cricket growth; diets processed into powder/pellets for ECOHUB use. Nutritional and safety profiles analyzed; 2,000+ farmers trained. Low-cost insect traps developed.
Baseline survey in six African countries on fish, spirulina, insect ingredients and recipes. NUTRICALC software used for new products, nutrition, and labeling. Green tech drying/chilling devices developed, including solar-powered driers; extruders used for novel powders. Products (porridge, biscuits, soups, snacks) made with local materials; consumer trials ongoing; final prototypes due Month 30.
Value-added products (hydrolysates, mineral extraction, phytonutrients, oils) from fish co-products, spirulina, insects started. Manuals for WP6 and WP7 written.
Sensory testing forms/protocols developed and shared. Survey methods and questionnaires for farmers and consumers prepared; acceptance survey in draft.
Life Cycle Inventory draft made with Kenyan partners; LCA study underway at Kenya ECOHUB. Food safety trainings based on ASC and HACCP done. Data/Knowledge infrastructure set up.
Beneficiary mobilization ongoing; 120 women and 120 youth registered across ECOHUBS. Communication/Dissemination Plan updated; e-learning platform live; website, LinkedIn, YouTube active with updates and events, including Joint Cluster Conference.
Regular ethics advisor reviews ensure best practices and national approvals; partners fulfilled requests related to animal, human, and biodiversity research.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

INNOECOFOOD will improve efficiency of cage aquaculture living labs in Lake Victoria (Uganda, Tanzania), Lake Volta, Ghana and Namibia using AI sensors to manage water quality, bloom, feed, fish condition and welfare. This will be integrated in agribusiness ECOHUBS using sustainably sourced prefabricated buildings in four diverse rural locations in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Egypt) to implement production and processing of three inter-related value chains: fish, spirulina and insects. Innovative low-cost technologies like solar-powered multipurpose driers, cooling equipment, hybrid wind/solar systems controlled by AI and IoT, and recycled building materials will enable net zero energy ECOHUBS, supporting AU-EU Green transition priorities. Production and processing locally in ECOHUBs follow a farm-to-fork approach minimizing transport costs and pollution. A circular food system will purify and recirculate waste water (RAS filtration or innovative IPRS) in ECOHUB ponds. Pond waste will be used as fertilizer; fish filleting co-products will produce novel nutritious products (fish skin gelatin, mineral supplements, fish feeds, bioactive hydrolysates). Spirulina proteins, lipids, phycocyanins, and insect proteins/lipids will be used for food and feed developed by nutrition experts, achieving circular economy and zero waste targets. ECOHUB will train 30 women and 30 youth as Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) in production and processing methods to run ECOHUBs as viable businesses post-project. Information and training will extend digitally to living labs, impacting over 5,000 community members engaged in aquaculture, with scope to expand across Africa and Europe.

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