Building a trusty future food system by using blockchain tech

ended

The TrustEat! project is a Twinning action between the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL, Portugal), Wageningen University & Research (WUR, Netherlands), and IBM Research (Switzerland) in the field of food blockchain. The essence of the partnership is 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 will develop a R&D Strategic Roadmap, will conduct training for senior and junior researchers, benchmark activities in research management and develop different activities with stakeholders to make the project sustainable, facilitating the transfer of knowledge. Activities include staff exchanges, expert visits, on-site/virtual training, workshops, conference, joint summer schools and activities to increase the ecosystem awareness. 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. 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 in the food value chain will know where their food comes in real-time data, which can really increase trust and confidence about food production from start to finish. By establishing a link between two of the best leading institutions in food integrity and blockchain, INL will improve the quality and the innovative nature of the developed research, will strengthen the interaction of partners, taking the research to the next level.