The WASTELESS project will develop and test a mix of innovative tools and methodologies for Food Loss and Waste (FLW) measurement and monitoring. A bottom-up approach will be followed: starting from defining an harmonised methodological framework and set of standards for the testing activities, the evaluation of the tools implementation and the quality and integrability of the data produced in other frameworks and finally recommend sustainable policies and business strategies to set the ground for a harmonised Framework at EU level. Additionally to the measurement and monitoring tools, WASTELESS will carry research activities on innovative processes and streams to valorise unavoidable FLW. With the ambition to make existing FLW quantification solutions and WASTELESS ones usable by all food actors, it will be developed a Decision Support Toolbox for any stakeholders to access to the most appropriate methodology, digital tools and solutions for FLW valorisation all that aggregated with the Environmental and Socio-Economic impact associated to the implementation of the solutions. This will enable the replication of data collection hubs accross Europe feeding the model developed by JRC with robust, reliable and comparable FLW data.

In spite of the huge number of pathogens and diseases, the number of “transmission channels” or “transport routes” for microorganisms to enter in a farm or any other Farm2Fork facility is indeed limited to just nine. Tracing or monitoring transport of a single or a few microorganisms using a particular channel will provide valuable information on the channel itself and therefore on the transport effectiveness for the whole set of microorganisms using that particular channel. HE-FARM will develop and validate a methodology -based on experimental assays and tests in lab & operational env- to assess and predict transport-channel resolved biosecurity and simultaneously increase maturity of several disruptive novel techs. A software/APP will be created to help with these procedures and proposed as a draft for a future EN standard. Prototypes of novel technologies for biosecurity will additionally be developed and validated in operational environment -including extensive and intensive cow, pig, chicken, turkey, sheep and snail farms, a slaughter and meat preparation plant and trucks: Fast Integrated air-borne virus smart detector (PRRS and Avian Flue but easily extendable to other virus with an enormous like African Swine Fever whose early detection in air in minutes will have an enormous impact) Sanitization by low-toxicity biocides & dynamic aggregation. Low-toxicity insecticides & repellents & dynamic aggregation application & Env-Friendly Insect and Arachnids barrier and prevention techs. Rapid Vehicle decon. station. Biosecure & Env-Friendly Hall & Heat Venting and Cooling. Portable Low-cost test-device for fast measuring microbiological metabolism. Cold plasma farm water sanitization. Usage and training procedures and manuals & assessment of performance method. Finally at least other 3 biosecure techs externally provided selected in an open call will be experimentally tested. Comm. & dissemination include liaising with authorities like EFSA and OIE.

Given the multitude of interactions between animals, humans and production systems, a thorough understanding of infection transmission routes is key in designing good biosecurity measures. Transmission can occur via direct contact but also through a range of indirect routes such as clothing, footwear, contaminated vehicles, air etc. Although all these routes have been described, their relative importance and therefore the importance of the linked biosecurity measures are still poorly understood. Consequently, many of the current biosecurity guidelines are based on empirical evidence making it difficult to rank measures by importance. The overarching goal of BioSecure is to improve the capacity for key actors and decision-makers in livestock farming to understand, prioritise and implement evidence-based, cost-effective and sustainable biosecurity management systems in current and future terrestrial livestock production chains for pigs, poultry, cattle and small ruminants. This will be achieved by: • Setting up and facilitating a multi actor stakeholder forum to support interactive knowledge exchange, bottom-up behavioural change and uptake of the key exploitable results. • Collecting existing biosecurity intelligence throughout the livestock production chain and creating biosecurity risk maps at an EU level for improving future risk analysis. • Quantifying the impact of biosecurity practices through quantitative risk assessment and mathematical models as tools to quantify the probability of introduction and spread of pathogens at farm and sector level. • Improving and extending biosecurity scoring tools for accurate measuring the level of biosecurity and providing adapted and science based advices. • Evaluation and improvement of biosecurity measures through experiments and field studies. • Assessing the socio-economic impact of biosecurity measures both at farm level and beyond.

WATSON provides a methodological framework combined with a set of tools and systems that can detect and prevent fraudulent activities throughout the whole food chain thus accelerating the deployment of transparency solutions in the EU food systems. The proposed framework will improve sustainability of food chains by increasing food safety and reducing food fraud through systemic innovations that a) increase transparency in food supply chains through improved track-and-trace mechanisms containing accurate, time-relevant and untampered information for the food product throughout its whole journey, b) equip authorities and policy makers with data, knowledge and insights in order to have the complete situational awareness of the food chain and c) raise the consumer awareness on food safety and value, leading to the adoption of healthier lifestyles and the development of sustainable food ecosystems. WATSON implements an intelligence-based risk calculation approach to address the phenomenon of food fraud in a holistic way. The project includes three distinct pillars, namely, a) the identification of data gaps in the food chain, b) the provision of methods, processes and tools to detect and counter food fraud and c) the effective cross border collaboration of public authorities through accurate and trustworthy information sharing. WATSON will rely upon emerging technologies (AI, IoT, DLT, etc.) enabling transparency within supply chains through the development of a rigorous, traceability regime, and novel tools for rapid, non-invasive, on-the-spot analysis of food products. The results will be demonstrated in 6 use cases: a) prevention of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, b) preservation of the authenticity of PGI honey, c) on-site authenticity check and traceability of olive oil, d) the identification of possible manipulations at all stages of the meat chain, e) the improved traceability of high-value products in cereal and dairy chain, f) combat of salmon counterfeiting.

The overall objective of HOLiFOOD is to improve the integrated food safety risk analysis (RA) framework in Europe to i) meet future challenges arising from Green Deal policy driven transitions in particular in relation to climate driven changes, ii) contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and iii) support the realization of a truly secure and sustainable food production. HOLiFOOD will apply a system approach, which take the whole environment into account in which food is being produced, including economic, environmental and social aspects. Three supply chains will be considered (i.e. cereals [maize], legumes [lentils] and poultry [chicken]). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data technologies will be used in the development of early warning and emerging risks prediction systems for known and unknown food safety hazards. In addition, tools, methods and approaches will be developed for hazard detection and will be targeted and non-targeted and new holistic risk assessment methods will be develop in which food safety risk will be embedded in a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the food system including positive and negative health, environment and economic dimensions. An effective impact pathway will be developed and implemented through integration of the HOLiFOOD outputs into the legal framework associated with the food risk analysis process. The impact pathway will be supported by an electronic data and knowledge sharing platform aiming at the full digitalization of food (safety) systems and supporting transparency and impact for all stakeholders. In order to align with stakeholder priorities, preferences and user requirements, the HOLiFOOD innovations will be designed and tested in a multi actor approach (i.e. Living Lab) involving all stakeholders (e.g., authorities, food producers and citizens).