NOVAFOODIES: Demonstration of innovative functional food production systems based on a sustainable value chain of marine and freshwater raw materials for conscientious European consumers.

NOVAFOODIES aims to boost the sustainable production of macro and microalgae, and different fish species, with the objective of developing new functional foods and feeds

Context

Today, climate change linked mainly to industrial activities and overpopulation represent some of the main global challenges. Intensive agriculture to supply food to a growing population generates a multitude of environmental problems affecting local and global systems. However, the diversity of both harvested species and products derived from aquaculture and capture fisheries (marine and freshwater) has remained static in recent decades.

Algae have proven to be of high quality food and nutritional value for human consumption, while their production contributes to climate change mitigation through CO2 capture. In general, microalgae and macroalgae production has focused on a narrow range of species, and existing systems have not yet been adapted to local conditions.

Transforming seafood production systems requires changes along the entire value chain, with environmental impact control and diversified production with a sustainability and traceability label that builds consumer confidence. Aware of these challenges, but often working in isolation, many organisations are developing solutions for the aquatic food sector.

NOVAFOODIES brings together some of these organisations in a unique consortium to demonstrate that the production and marketing of aquatic food products can be achieved in a sustainable way.

Summary and objectives

NOVAFOODIES aims to offer European consumers novel and competitive functional products from reliable, traceable and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains.

To achieve these new food products, it will focus on transforming the value chain of food production from marine and freshwater resources. Thus, it will work on the sustainable production of macro and microalgae, and different species of fish, with the aim of developing new functional foods and feeds, through different case studies in ecosystems in Europe, Israel and China with the aim of promoting the use of local resources.

It will also focus on the valorisation of by-products, within a more circular and sustainable value chain.

This project will also work on the formulation and development of new functional feeds for aquaculture and food for human consumption.

NOVAFOODIES will develop a MarketPlatform & Mobile App using IoT technologies and advanced data analysis for tracing & wastes optimisation along the value chain, enhacing consumers trust.

In addition, the inclusion of social interest groups will be promoted through training for disadvantaged groups, professionals and teachers.

Consortium

NOVAFOODIES is composed of an international consortium formed by 27 members covering the whole value chain and needed expertise: production, processing, transformation, biosecurity, legislation, consumer associations, experts in businesses, IT, and sustainability.

1. IDENER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AGRUPACION DE INTERÉS ECONÓMICO (Spain).

2. FUNDACIÓN CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO ACUICULTURA DE ANDALUCÍA (Spain).

3. UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA (Italy).

4. UNIVERSITAET ROSTOCK (Germany).

5. ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG (Germany).

6. TARTU ULIKOOL (Estonia).

7. ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA (Greece).

8. ISRAEL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND LIMNOLOGICAL RESEARCH LIMITED (Israel).

9. UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA CLUJ-NAPOCA (Romania).

10. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK (Ireland).

11. YELLOW SEA FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CHINESE ACADEMY OF FISHERY SCIENCES (China).

12. SAGREMARISCO-VIVEIROS DE MARISCO LDA (Portugal).

13. KEFALONIA FISHERIES INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMPANY AE (Greece).

14. THE SEAWEED COMPANY BLUE TURTLE LIMITED (Ireland).

15. YIOTIS ANONIMOS EMPORIKI & VIOMIXANIKI ETAIREIA (Greece).

16. BIOMARINE INGREDIENTS IRELAND LTD (Ireland).

17. SPREAD EUROPEAN SAFETY GEIE (Italy).

18. LEBENSMITTELVERSUCHSANSTALT (Austria).

19. HOLOSS – HOLISTIC AND ONTOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY (Portugal).

20 INFOTEAM SRL (Italy).

21. ASOCIATIA DE STANDARDIZARE DIN ROMANIA (Romania).

22. LASER CONSULT MUSZAKI-TUDOMANYOS ES GAZDASAGI TANACSADO KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG (Hungary).

23 ASOCIACÓN NACIONAL DE FABRICANTES DE CONSERVAS DE PESCADOS Y MARISCOS-CENTRO TÉCNICO NACIONAL DE CONSERVACIÓN DE PRODUCTOS DE LA PESCA (Spain).

24. LONGLINE ENVIRONMENT LIMITED (Ireland).

25. TECHNOLOGIKO PANEPISTIMIO KYPROU (Cyprus).

26. INSTITUTO TECNOÓGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGÍSTICA (Spain).

27. FUNDACIÓN ACCIÓN CONTRA EL HAMBRE (Spain).

ITENE’s role

ITENE  will work on the definition of optimized value chains to develop circular business models in the fisheries, aquaculture and algae sector.

It will be developed a supply chain traceability system to collect and monitor catch and aquaculture data at all stages, controlling the authenticity and quality of the food.

To quantify food waste from fishing to marketing, degradation/putrefaction indicators will be used and a platform will be developed to share information between actors in the supply chain, using IoT and blockchain technologies, and an app for end-users.

In addition, in the field of waste recovery, NOVAFOODIES will work on the definition of an optimised model for the collection and transport of different plants for its treatment, taking into account aspects of environmental impact and health and safety in the supply chain.

Likewise, and integrated in the previous platform, it will develop a traceability system to identify the main properties of the waste and the main users.