Catalyse's ambition is to speed up and make more efficient the adoption of knowledge and innovative solutions that promote food safety by food system players. Led by the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at the Faculty of Biotechnology of Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto. Its aim is to create a network of food safety players that supports the adoption of knowledge and innovative solutions throughout the value chain.
It will be a common place where all the players in the food chain can meet - innovators, regulators, universities, industries, non-governmental organizations - and jointly define the needs and possibilities that innovation can respond to. By associating all these players, it promotes personalized, co-created innovation with an identified market for implementation, providing win-win solutions.
The project, which was selected as the best proposal for the "Thematic network to guarantee food safety by translating research and innovation into practice" challenge under Horizon Europe, the European Commission's framework program for research and innovation, is made up of 17 partners and will run for three years. The project kicked off at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan on 31 January and 1 February. It was two days full of enlightening discussions on the mission to support innovation in food safety by promoting the implementation of new technologies.
Collaboration and knowledge sharing
Researchers Paula Teixeira and João Cortez, coordinators of the project in Portugal, explain that "the network aims to promote collaboration and the sharing of knowledge on food safety in a model that collects and then shares this same knowledge and practices through active education and facilitation."
The project aims to bridge the gap between end users, innovators, professionals, trainers and regulators, facilitating communication between these parties, while matching practical needs with innovative solutions.
Raising awareness and understanding of the innovations being produced "Farm2Fork"; promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing between food system actors to accelerate the adoption and expansion of innovative practices and technologies; producing educational materials and providing training for professionals and end users; supporting start-ups and SMEs with promising food safety innovations and evaluating the impact of innovation on the food system and identifying areas for future development are Catalyse's lines of action.
Education as a priority
"Education and facilitation will be key activities to support innovation and change management," say the coordinators.
During the network's activities, priorities for future work will be defined, education and training in food safety will be provided and support will be given to food start-ups and SMEs. Data on inventions and practices related to food safety will be made available on an open-access platform to support widespread communication.
Funded by Horizon Europe, the European Commission's Framework Program for Research and Innovation, the "Catalyse innovation in food systems" project is led by the Portuguese Catholic University and involves the following entities: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Wageningen University & Research, Nofima AS, European Federation of Food Science and Technology, Quadram Institute, Research Division Plant-Production Systems, Slovenska Polnohpodarska Univerzita V Nitre, Stichting Effost, Federacion Espanola de Industrias de la Alimentacion Y Bebidas, Syreon Kutato Intezet Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Ruokavirasto, Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires, Fooddringk Europe, Flanders' Food, ANSES - Agence Nationale de la Securite Sanitaire de L Alimentation de L Environment et du Travail, ProCheese.
