ALLIANCE
HORIZON European Project
A hoListic framework in the quality Labelled food supply chain systems’ management towards enhanced
data Integrity and verAcity, interoperability, traNsparenCy, and tracEability!
Gijon, October 3, 2024 – The ALLIANCE consortium gathered in Gijon for its 4th Plenary Meeting, a pivotal event to review the project’s progress on its food traceability and safety objectives, supported by blockchain and AI technologies. Representatives from key institutions such as the University of Thessaly (UTH), ASINCAR, and other esteemed partners discussed ongoing developments, challenges, and upcoming deliverables.
Stavroula Maglavera (UTH) presented a project overview, emphasizing the status of activities, milestones, and the importance of pilot projects focused on food authenticity and supply chain resilience. Discussions included advancements in using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to enhance traceability for products like PDO Feta Cheese and organic honey, as well as innovative AI-based early warning systems for detecting food fraud.
The meeting also reviewed progress in food safety, showcasing the application of advanced DNA sequencing and spectroscopic methods to combat fraud in products like olive oil and honey. Pilot demonstrations underscored the need for adaptability and refinement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure alignment with project goals and measurable outcomes. In this spirit, UNIBO will lead a feasibility analysis for KPI adjustments, with a follow-up meeting planned for October 31.
In the dissemination area, the consortium outlined its roadmap for upcoming scientific publications, participation in conferences like FoodTech 2024, and stakeholder engagement events. These efforts are part of a wider plan to increase the project’s impact and prepare for the final conference in 2025.
The meeting concluded with plans for the next six months and a commitment to refining the project’s approaches to food safety, traceability, and sustainability.
Project Update on ALLIANCE – Key Outcomes and Future Focus
The recent review of the ALLIANCE project praised its strides in enhancing food traceability and safety through cutting-edge technologies such as Blockchain, IoT, AI, and spectroscopy. With strong developments in infrastructure and pilot studies, the project is on track to meet its objectives.
However, the review highlighted areas where focused actions can maximize impact and ensure sustained success.
To strengthen dissemination and communication, ALLIANCE will ramp up publishing efforts, participate actively in events, and expand outreach to communicate project benefits widely.
Engagement with regulatory bodies is also a priority; ALLIANCE will work closely with the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the EU Food Fraud Network to align the Digital Knowledge Base with European food safety standards and gain support for its blockchain and AI-based solutions.
A more structured approach to consumer surveys will enhance data quality, with steps to ensure gender and geographic representation, along with pilot tests of translations to improve clarity and relevance. The project will also accelerate the establishment of its Valorisation Board, a crucial step for translating innovations into market-ready products by guiding commercialization strategies and industry connections.
Several pilot projects will undergo specific adjustments. The olive oil case will focus on DNA analysis for oil samples rather than leaves, enhancing traceability outcomes. In the faba bean case, methodology refinements will ensure the applicability of AI in fraud detection, while the potato case will introduce quality authentication technology to complement its blockchain-based tracking.
Moving forward, ALLIANCE will prioritize data collection for pilots to meet ambitious KPIs, with each partner assessing the feasibility of existing indicators. Knowledge transfer and industry engagement efforts will target practical applications, fostering market readiness. This approach aligns with ALLIANCE’s mission to create a sustainable, transparent food supply chain, positioning European producers at the forefront of food safety innovation.
Project's implementation
ALLIANCE consortium is composed of (26) partners from (15) countries with diversified experiences and expertise necessary to achieve the objectives and activities of the project:
PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIAS (GR), NETCOMPANY-INTRASOFT SA (LU), BIOCOS IKE (GR), UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB (HR), CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE HAUTES ETUDES AGRONOMIQUES MEDITERRANEENNES (FR), UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA (IT), INSTITUTE FOR FOOD TECHNOLOGY OF NOVI SAD (RS), FEDERBIO SERVIZI SRL (IT), ALCE NERO SPA (IT), LARISA’S DAIRY INDUSTRY S.A. OLYMPOS (GR), WISEFOUR LTD (CY), MENA GROUP (RS), CONSEJO REGULADOR IGP FABA ASTURIANA (ES), ASOCIACIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN INDUSTRIAS DE LA CARNE DEL PRINCIPADO DE ASTURIAS (ES), CONFEDERAZIONE ITALIANA AGRICOLTORI REGIONALE UMBRIA (IT), UDRUGA PROIZVODACA LICKOG KRUMPIRA (HR), ORIGINAL (RS), BIOTECHNICON (HR), CONSEJER A DE MEDIO RURAL Y COHESI N TERRITORIAL DEL PRINCIPADO DE ASTURIAS (ES), RMS 001 d.o.o. (RS), BAVARIAN HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY (DE), MIGROS TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI (TR), DIAMANTIS MASOUTIS AE SUPER MARKET (GR), THE LISBON COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND SOCIAL RENEWAL ASBL (BE), THE WORLD BEE PROJECT (UK), EUROPEAN FOOD INFORMATION RESOURCES (BE).
Start date 01-11-2022 – End date 31-10-2025
The project is co-funded by the European Commission, and by Horizon Europe.
Project Number: 101084188 — ALLIANCE — HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01
The ALLIANCE project has received funding from the Horizon Europe’s project call HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01 under Grant Agreement n. 101084188
