Globally, one-third of food production is wasted, leading to significant loss of resources and greenhouse gas emissions. Creating new, sustainable solutions to the problem of food waste is a pivotal goal of the EU. PURE-WAY aims to tackle this issue by fostering crosssectoral and multi-actor collaboration to devise new circular zero-waste solutions for fruit and vegetable waste. Together, we will develop cutting-edge biotechnologies: industrially applicable green solvents for extracting high added-value bioactive compounds; computational modeling-driven smart fermentation; and a next-generation eco-friendly composting system using specifically engineered synthetic microbial consortia. Through these innovative approaches, PURE-WAY will transform fruit and vegetable waste into functional foods with health benefits (2 functional beverages and natural cosmetics product), bio-based chemicals for eco-friendly solvents, and biofertilizers. The resulting technological advancements will help address key food system challenges, natural cosmetics, providing safe, nutritious, healthy and affordable food, and supporting sustainable agriculture practices. The project integrates 11 partners from 8 countries, including 6 from Europe, 1 from South America and 1 from North America, merging 6 academic and 5 non-academic partners to facilitate 70 secondments (224 months), 13 between academic to academic (50 months) and 57 secondments (174 months) between academic to non-academic representatives. By fostering knowledge and markedly cross-disciplinary skill exchanges, PURE-WAY will substantially enhance research and innovation capacities through reaching well-defined objectives. This holistic approach will decisively contribute to creating a sustainable, circular food economy, aligning with EU policies and global sustainability goals.

Currently there are no portable test or biosensors validated for air, soil or water quality control for pathogens, Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Persistent Mobile Chemicals (PMCs), so such devices are much awaited by all stakeholders to ensure successful control and prevention of contamination and infections. Mobiles consortium will develop an interdisciplinary framework of expertise, and tools for monitoring, detection, and consequently mitigation of pollution from pathogens, CECs, PMCs, thus benefiting human and environmental health. Mobiles consortium will work to achieve the following objectives: Develop electronic biosensors for monitoring organic chemicals (pesticides, hormones) and antimicrobial resistance bacteria and pathogens in water, soil and air; Develop organism-based biosensor for detection of organic and inorganic pollution in water and soil; Study environmental performance of developed organisms and devices; Metagenomics analysis of organisms leaving in polluted areas in order to enable searches for diverse functionalities across multiple gene clusters Perform safety tests (e.g., EFSA) to assess the impact of developed organisms on the natural environment. Organism-based biosensor will consist on genetically modified chemiluminescent bacteria able to detect antibiotics, heavy metals, and pesticides in water; genetically modified plants that will change colour when in the soil is present arsenic; and marine diatoms that will be used to detect bioplastic degradation in marine and aquatic environments. Developed devices and organisms will be implemented by using flexible technologies, which can guarantee an easy adaptation to other biotic and abiotic pollutants. Devices and organisms, after proper validation and approval, could be used by consumers, inspection services and industry operators, as well as environmental emergency responders to monitor and detect PMCs, CECs and pathogens in water, air and soil

There is an urgent need to understand the risks on human health of micro- and nano-plastic particles (MNPs) that contaminate food and environment. We aim to create a cross-disciplinary platform to design suitable analytical approaches for determining the extent of the problem in the environment and to our health by evaluating the influence of ingested and inhaled exposure of MNPs contaminated with metals, allergens, pathogenic bacteria and toxins on allergic responses. Our strategy includes developing a novel combination of tools to identify, extract, characterize, and quantify MNPs from selected foods, environmental media, and tissues of exposed animals to assess MNP prevalence based on size, shape and type. We will produce and label MNPs for use in a variety of pre-clinical studies to investigate toxicity and responses to MNPs, contaminants and allergens. We plan to use novel stable isotope 13C labelling and detection to determine MNP fate and accumulation in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and secondary organs after immediate and chronic exposure and the effect on allergic immune responses at the cellular and molecular levels. Additionally, we designed a clinical study to evaluate the influence of MNP exposure in humans. The outcome of this state-of-the-art project includes - novel tools for MNP detection - improved understanding of the effects of NMPs combined with critical contaminants in the air, water and food on human health and discovery of predictive biomarkers - increased awareness of disease risk in response to MNPs and contaminants - improved communication strategies between science and relevant stakeholders and contribution to blue growth and the health-relevant aims of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy - policy-relevant scientific data in support of improved human health hazard and risk assessment and for response and mitigation policies at the national and EU level for policymakers. ImpTox is part of the European MNP cluster on human health.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely used for more than 60 years to make plastics, firefighting foams, and lubricants, and help create stain-resistant, waterproof, and nonstick products. However, they ended up in the environment and now can be found in the soil, water, sediment, accumulated in human bodies and represent a worldwide challenge. The Serbian national chemicals legislation recognizes these chemicals, but none of the existing scientific or governmental institutions analyze these compounds. In addition, a solution to the challenge of remediation is not in sight. Based on a number of publications in peer-reviewed journals, a number of international projects, and a number of students, the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry (UBFC) is one of the leading scientific institutions in Serbia. This project aims to enhance networking activities between UBFC and two top-class counterparts, who are leaders in PFAS analysis (CSIC from Spain) and innovative (bio)remediation of emerging pollutants (BRGM from France). In addition, this project will focus on strengthening the research management capacities and administrative skills of the Grant Office from UBFC. This will be conducted through the development of a scientific strategy for dealing with PFAS (WP1), knowledge transfer in the field of analysis and (bio)remediation of emerging pollutants (WP2), networking and promoting joint research integrating creativity and developing new approaches for PFAS remediation (WP3), capacity building of the UBFC Grant Office (WP4), and through dissemination, exploitation and communication (WP5). The expected impact of PFASTwin is to enhance the reputation, research and administrative profile, and networking channels of UBFC and improve its capability to compete successfully for national, EU, and international research funding while simultaneously benefiting partner institutions through new contacts, skills, and collaborations.