Building a trusty future food system by using blockchain tech

Project Information

TrustEat

Grant agreement ID: 952600

DOI

10.3030/952600

Project closed

EC signature date 12 June 2020

Start date 1 October 2020

End date 30 September 2023

Funded under

• Twinning of research institutions

Total cost

€ 894 362,63

EU contribution

€ 894 362,63

Coordinated by

INTERNATIONAL IBERIAN NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TrustEat (Building a trusty future food system by using blockchain tech)

Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2023-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Food safety is a basis for effective functioning of markets with trust and transparency. Food safety risks occur along the food chain from a number of contaminants. In addition, malpractices or fraudulent practices could also lead to increased food safety risks and economic and reputational damage. It is of major importance for the public health to develop integrated approaches along the entire food chain for detecting, assessing, and mitigating pathogens and contaminant hazards. The food blockchain technology would allow to ensure the food value chain integrity to consumers, that is, safety, traceability and authenticity. By using blockchain all the stakeholders across the food value chain could have reliable and trusty information about the food production from the raw materials to the final product, which can really increase trust and confidence about the whole food system from farm to fork.
The TrustEat project was a Twinning action between the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL, Portugal), Wageningen University & Research (WUR, Netherlands), and IBM Research Europe (IBM, Switzerland) in the field of food blockchain. The essence of the partnership was to strengthen the research area of food blockchain, focusing on improving INL´s research profile and capturing future opportunities of joint research. With these objectives, partners have developed a R&D Strategic Roadmap, conducted training for senior and junior researchers, benchmarked activities in research management, and developed activities with stakeholders to make the project sustainable. Activities included staff exchanges, expert visits, on-site/virtual training, workshops, joint summer schools and activities to increase the ecosystem awareness.

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

INL has strengthened the collaborations with its partners (WUR and IBM) and expanded the knowledge that INL has in the area of blockchain applied to the agrifood sector. It has enabled the integration of various aspects in INL research, especially for sensors development and applications in the food chain, miniaturized devices for food targeted and non targeted analysis and materials for smart tags, and stamps. Also, it opened up potential new ideas to apply with companies, especially in for the use case of wine. TrustEat developed a R&I Roadmap that focuses on actions to ensure the sustainability of the project.Based on these outcomes and also on suggestions by participants, a list of 19 topics was defined for the next activities, namely workshops and lectures. Also Project Management benchmarking actions were carried out, to learn about the structure and organisation of the research management in each organisation. Actions to ensure the sustainability of the project were planned.Three Talent Programmes were executed: one for Experience Researchers (ERs), another one for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), and a third one for Project Managers (PMs).

In Talent Programme I for ERs, the goal was to enhance INL ERs' R&I profile in blockchain for the agrifood sector. TrustEat partners conducted 3 workshops for about 35 INL ERs, well-received for content, organization, and interaction. Expert Visits featured 13 scientific lectures aligned with the 3 modules, initially held online due to the pandemic. Summer Schools integrated Scientific Lectures, with recorded sessions on the TrustEat website. 7 ER secondments visited IBM and WUR.

Talent Programme II for ESRs hosted online (2021) and in-person (2022) Summer Schools. The program included Virtual Trainings, Seminars, and Scientific Lectures. Both editions had unique elements like tutoring, Career Session, Satellite day, Technical Workshop, and social activities. 3 Technical Workshops covered hands-on examples and concrete data flows and authentication pipelines from sensor to end result. 7 ESR secondments to WUR and IBM explored various aspects of agrifood research.

Talent Programme III - Project Management benchmarked Research Management across INL, WUR, and IBM. INL members visited IBM, and the Grants Office exchanged visits with WUR.

Sustainability actions included a Virtual Cooperation Platform and a Think Tank.
On the dissemination side, the project website received 5,822 visits, and partners disseminated information via social media, newsletters, videos, and conferences.
TrustEat pursued funding opportunities, resulting in 2 approved Horizon Europe projects on food traceability and digitalization.
Internal monitoring involved an International Advisory Board, issuing mid-term and final evaluation reports.

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)

TrustEat has broadened INL's expertise in the field of blockchain. It has strengthened the research performance of the three twinning partners. For INL, this expansion is particularly evident in the focus on sensor development and valorization within the broader context of INL's research initiatives. This has been achieved thanks to different activities such as 13 Scientific Lectures, 2 Summer Schools, 3 Technical Workshops and Virtual trainings. Most of these trainings have been recorded and are open online for any person willing to learn about blockchain applied to the food sector.

Topics and ideas that were explored in the TrustEat secondments will potentially led to 6 publications. In addition, the consortium is preparing to launch a Special Issue dedicated to the applications of Blockchain in the Food System.

The project has significantly elevated INL's visibility among European partners, resulting in invitations to participate in 3 different consortia for Horizon Europe proposals related to agrifood blockchain. Furthermore, INL collaborated with WUR to jointly develop 5 proposals for Horizon Europe. From the 11 Horizon Europe proposals initiated, 9 were submitted, 2 dropped and 2 approved. One of the projects approved will give continuity to the learning outcomes of TrustEat as it aims to find Transparency Solutions for Transforming the Food Systems. It comprises 27 partners linked to agri-food actors and businesses through an interactive co-creation approach, which will enable INL to create more strategic connections.

INL is working together with the international company SOGRAPE in the implementation of maturity sensors for grapes in the field, in the follow up of the Horizon 2020 project i-GRAPE. Learning outcomes from TrustEat are being applied in this sensor. A patent was registered related to this project.

TrustEat promoted the involvement of 5 regional stakeholders in blockchain proposals. It also created a Think Tank in Portugal/Galicia and organised a Think Tank Forum with academia, industry and policy makers. Different topics were discussed, such as examples of early adoption of digital technologies in companies to trace food products, markets ‘acceptance and future positioning of the region. Topics discussed may be included in the policy agendas.

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